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1  _    _  _^ 

j  I  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,  f 

,^  I    Frincston,  N.  J.  | 


D       ra.sY%  Divicioi! 


^''^sss^'S  ^'^i^Q  £sB=^i V.iL^i©<^^s"G^^>  *  ! 


BX   5199    .W37  W4  1857 
Weitbrecht,  Mary  Edwards 
Memoir  of  the  Rev,  John 
James  Weitbrecht 


memoir 

OF  THE 

REY.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


MEMOIR 


OF  THE 


REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBKECHT, 

LATE  MISSIONARY  OF  THE  CHURCH  MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY  AT  BURDWAN,  IN  BENGAL. 


COMPREHENDINa  A 

HISTORY  OF  THE  BURDAVAN  MISSION, 

COMPILED  FROM  HIS  JOURNAL  AND  LETTERS, 

BY  HIS  WIDOW, 


WITH  A 

RECOMMENDATORY  NOTICE,  BY  REY.  HENRY  VENN,  B  D., 

HONOKAKT  SKCEETARY  OF  THE  CHURCH  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 
AND  AN 

INTRODUCTION  BY   THE  EDITOR, 
THE    REV.  A.  M.  W.  CHRISTOPHER,  M.A., 

CITRATE  OP  ST.  JOHN'S,  RICHMOND,  AND  FORMERLY  PRINCIPAL 
OF  LA  MARTINIERB,  CALCUTTA. 


FROM  THE  SECOND  ENGLISH  EDITION. 


PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL    SOCIETY   FOR    THE    PROMOTION  OP 
EVANGELICAL  KNOWLEDGE. 
NO.  11   BIBLE   HOUSE,  ASTOR  PLACE. 

1857 


John  A,  Gray,  Printer  and  Stereotyper, 

Fikk-Proof  Buildings,  16  &  18  Jacob  St.,  N.  Y. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGR 

Preface,  11 

Introduction,  13 

CHAPTER  I. 
1802—1828. 

Childhood  and  Youth — Enters  tho  Missionary  Seminary  at  Basle — 
Time  spent  there — Correspondence,  21 

CHAPTER  IL 
1828—1830. 

Farewell  to  "Wurtemberg — Proceeds  to  England — Residence  in 
England — ^Voyage  to  India — Arrival  at  Calcutta,      .      .  .44 

CHAPTER  m. 
1830—1831. 


Journey  to  Burdwan — Residence  and  Employments  in  Calcutta — 
Designation  to  Burdwan — Sketch  of  the  Commencement  of  the 
Mission  there — Settles  and  begins  his  Labors  at  that  Station, 


64 


vi 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
1832—1833. 

PAGE 

Baptism  of  Eighteen  Converts — Tour  with  Mr.  Alexander — Baptism 
in  a  Heathen  Yillage — Extracts  from  Correspondence — Death  of 
the  Rajah  of  Burdwan — Hurricane — Arrival  of  Four  Brethren — 
Enjoyment  of  their  Visit — Death  of  a  Pious  Lady — Christmas — 
Concludes  his  Second  Year  of  Labor,  84 


CHAPTER  V. 
1833—1834. 


Attempt  to  poison  a  Convert  by  his  Brother — Farewell  to  his 
Brethren — Itinerant  Labors — Joined  by  Mr.  Lincke — Introduc- 
tion to  Serampore — Bishop  Wilson — Mr.  Duff's  School — Letters — 
Visit  to  the  Rajah — Building  Enghsh  School-house — Becomes 
Tutor  to  the  Rajah — Shock  of  an  Earthquake — ^Visits  Beerbhoom 
— Young  Rajah  installed — Visit  to  Calcutta — Invitation  to  settle 
there,  101 


CHAPTER  VL 
1834—1835. 


Air.  BosweU's  Visit — Marriage — A  New  Master  for  the  EngUsh 
School — Erects  an  Orphan-House — Visit  to  the  Rajah — Serious 
lUness — Many  Trials  and  Encouragements — Inundation — Arrival 
of  Numerous  Orphans — Death  of  an  Interesting  Convert — Mis- 
sion Tours,  124 


CHAPTER  VII. 
1835— IBS'?. 

Extensive  Tour  with  Three  Brethren — Birth  of  a  Daughter — Bap- 
tism of  a  Brahmun  Youth — Letter  to  him — Illness  from  Expos- 
ure to  the  Sun — Visit  to  Calcutta — Escape  from  Dangerous  Ac- 
cident at  Bancoorah — Another  Tour — Fever,    .       .       .  .154 


CONTENTS. 


vii 


CHAPTER  YIIT. 
1836— 183t. 

PAGE 

Mr.  Greenwood  becomes  Tutor  to  the  Rajah  —  Two  Missionaries 
arrive  for  Sunamooky — Mr.  Lincke  removes  to  Calcutta — Death 
of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  Child  —  Attends  an  Important  Missionary 
Conference — Great  Importance  of  Calcutta  as  a  Missionary  Sta- 
tion— Tour  Incidents — Death  of  a  Pious  Lad — Tour — Amusing 
Anecdote — Death  of  James,  Catechist  at  Bancoorah,        .      .  Itl 


CHAPTER  IX. 
IBSt— 1838. 

Baptism  of  Koilas  —  Loss  of  his  Son  —  Bishop's  Visit — Tom*s — 
Pfander's  Arrival  with  his  Brethren — Tour  with  Mr.  Wybrow,  194 

CHAPTER  X. 

1839—  1840. 

Visits  Krishnaghur — Describes  the  Movement  there— K.  M.  Ban- 
nerjea — "Weakened  Health — Death  of  Mr.  Greenwood — Trip  to 
Benares,  209 

CHAPTER  XI. 

1840—  1842. 

Beiiares — Return  Home — Mr.  Wybrow  goes  to  Gorruckpore — Death 
of  his  Sister — Tour  to  Maldah — Death  of  "Wybrow — Close  of  the 
Year — Another  Itinerancy — Bishop's  Visit — Embaxks  for  Europe 
—Arrival,  229 

CHAPTER  XIL 
1842—1844. 


HoUand — Dr.  Vanderkemp — Meeting  with  his  Brother — Pious 
Pmssian  Nobleman — Death  of  his  Grandmother — Basle — Berne 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


—  Grurnigal  —  Swiss  Missionary  Meetings — Tour — Missionary- 
Meeting  at  Stuttgart — Visit  to  the  Eling — Returns  to  England — 
Barmen  Mission-house — Death  of  his  Mother — Obituary  of  two 
Catechists — ^Anecdotes — Returns  to  the  Continent — Lectures  at 
Basle  and  other  Places — Incidents  connected  with  them,  and 
Remarkable  Blessing  upon  them — Returns  to  England — Labors 
there — Second  Dismissal,  .254 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
1844—1845. 

Second  Departure  from  England — Overland  Yoyage  to  India — Ar- 
rival at  Calcutta — Proceeds  to  Burdwan — Reception — First  En- 
gagements— Prospects — Sale  for  the  Schools — Goes  to  Krish- 
naghur  to  First  Missionary  Conference,  287 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
1845—1846. 

Efforts  on  Behalf  of  the  Colliers— Baptism  and  Happy  Death  of 
an  Aged  Convert — Visits  the  Mines — Occurrences  there — Hindu 
Legend — Sale  at  Calcutta  and  Missionary  Meeting,  and  Sale  at 
Chinsurah — The  Swinging  Festival — ^Visits  the  Villages — Opin- 
ions of  the  Brahmuns — Affecting  Death  of  a  Pundit — Striking 
Characteristics  —  Mr.  Dicken  leaves  —  Inundation —  Subjects  of 
Preaching — Tour — Letter  to  Mr.  Hensman,       .      .      .  .297 


CHAPTER  XV. 
1846—1847. 

Interesting  Incidents  on  Tour — Arrival  of  Brethren — Letter  to 
Mrs.  Ramsay — Illness  of  Mr.  Reynolds — Letter  to,  his  Child — Ex- 
cursion to  Chota  Nagpore — Conference — Presentation  to  Christ's 
Hospital — Anecdote  of  Roman  Catholic  Missions,     .      .      .  321 


CONTENTS. 


ix 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
184'7~1848. 

PAGE 

Decides  on  building  a  Church — Lays  the  Foundation-stone — Let- 
ters— Encouraging  Conversions — Death  of  Mr.  MacDonald — 
Other  Incidents — Death  of  Mrs.  Hill — Much  Sickness — Cham- 
berlain's Reflections — Letters  to  his  Children — Hindu  Legend — 
Receives  a  Family  mto  his  House — Extracts  from  Annual  Report,  349 

CHAPTER  XYII. 

1848—  1849. 

Death  of  his  Infant  Son — Increasing  Sanctification — Interesting 
Incidents  during  Itinerancy — Death  of  the  Ranee — Letters — Trip 
to  Bhagulpore — Severe  Illness — Goes  to  the  Sandheads — Inun- 
dation— River  Trip — ^Yisit  to  Pumeah — Baptism — Bhagulpore — 
Mr.  Hurter's  Death — Report,  367 

CHAPTER  XYin. 

1849—  1850. 

Goes  out  in  Tents — Robbery — Returns  Home  through  the  Sunder- 
buns — Letters — Constant  Reference  to  the  Eternal  "World — 
Itinerating — Death  of  Mr.  Krauss'  Child — Native  Testunony  to 
the  East-India  Company's  Government — Tour — Missionary  Faith- 
fuhiess — Last  Visit  to  Beerbhoom — Severe  Illness — Death  of 
Koilas — Death  of  Mr.  Ejauss — Conference — Death  of  Dr.  Haber- 
lin — Mr.  Davis — ^His  Visit  to  Burdwan — Mr.  Merk's  Recollections 
of  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  380 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

1850—  1851. 

Incidents  on  Tour — Hospitahty  of  Hindus — Visit  to  Krishnaghur— 
Letter  to  his  Son — Happy  Deaths — Hurricane — Letter  to  Mr. 


X 


CONTENTS. 


Venn — Death  of  his  Brother — Baptism  of  two  Hindu  Youths — 
Deaths  of  Ehzabeth  and  Kripa — Letter  to  a  Missionary  Student 
— Departure  of  his  Wife  and  Children  for  Europe — Incidents,    .  40G 

CHAPTEB  XX. 
1851. 

Tour  with  Mr.  Lacroix — Many  Incidents — Calcutta  Bible  Meeting 
— Colporteurs  to  the  Hindus — Pfander — Second  Tour — English 
Preaching — Desires  to  devote  himself  wholly  to  Itinerating — 
Baptism  of  his  Tenth  Child — Easter — Serious  Illness — Anticipa- 
tions of  Death — Letter  to  a  Missionary  Student — The  Church 
struck  by  Lightning — To  a  Friend — Success  of  Missionaries  in 
Calcutta — Notice  of  the  Bhagulpore  Mission — Baptism  of  a  Hindu 
Lady — Rajah  of  Burdwan's  Place  of  Worship,         .      .  .429 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
1851. 

Continuation  of  Incidents — "Visit  of  Mr.  Woodrow  —  Arrival  of 
New  Missionaries — Their  Opinion  of  him — Last  Visit  to  Ban- 
coorah — Last  Extensive  Tour — Incidents — ^Arrival  of  his  Wife — 
Letter  to  a  Young  Missionary — Several  Interesting  Letters,      .  463 

CHAPTER  XXIL 
1862. 

Becomes  Unwell,  and  returns  Home  from  the  Villages  for  the  Last 
Time — Prepares  for  Conference — Goes  to  Calcutta — Engage- 
ments of  the  Last  Week — Preaches  his  Last  Sermon — Illness — 
Death — Funeral — Letters  from  Friends — Testimonials — Descrip- 
tion of  his  Person,  484 


Appendix, 


523 


PREFACE 


Having  been  requested  by  the  editor  to  state  the  share  which  I  have 
had  m  advising  the  compilation  of  this  volume,  I  willingly  do  so. 

The  large  circle  of  friends  to  the  missionary  cause,  whether  in  India 
or  in  Europe,  by  whom  the  name  of  Weitbrecht  is  held  in  high  honor, 
wUl  rejoice  to  receive  a  permanent  record  of  one  of  the  leading  minds 
engaged  m  laying  the  foundations  of  Church  missions  in  Bengal.  When 
the  question  arose  to  v:liom  the  task  of  preparing  such  a  record  was  to 
be  intrusted,  I  had  no  hesitation  in  encouragmg  his  widow,  who  had 
been  the  partner  of  all  his  labors  as  well  as  of  his  spiritual  life,  to 
undertake  the  collecting,  in  Germany  and  in  England,  the  family  re- 
cords and  letters  of  her  late  husband,  and  to  interweave  them  ^\ith  his 
own  private  journal,  and  with  his  official  reports  to  the  Society  which 
had  the  privilege  of  sustaining  his  missionary  labors.  This  task  Mrs. 
Weitbrecht  promptly  and  ably  performed.  But  it  stm  remained  to  re- 
duce these  documents  into  the  compass  of  one  volume,  and  to  exercise 
that  discriminating  judgment  in  the  selection  which  could  be  better 
performed  by  a  friend  than  by  one  so  nearly  connected  with  the  subject 
of  the  Memoir.  This  was  undertaken,  as  a  labor  of  love,  by  one  who 
knew  Weitbrecht  in  Bengal,  and  visited  several  of  our  missions — ^the 
Rev.  A.  M.  W.  Christopher.  Though  not  a  missionary  or  even  in  holy 
orders  when  m  India,  Mr.  Christopher  took  the  Hvehest  interest  m 
every  religious  event ;  and  I  regard  his  position  at  that  time,  as  the 


xii 


PREFACE. 


principal  of  a  college  in  Calcutta,  as  having  given  him  the  advantage 
of  a  more  general  sphere  of  observation  than  would  have  fallen  to  the 
lot  of  a  clergyman  in  India. 

The  volume  itself  will  abundantly  justify  the  advice  for  which  I  am 
responsible ;  and  I  have  only  to  add  my  humble  but  earnest  prayer, 
that  as  it  testifies  of  the  grace  which  was  upon  our  departed  missionary 
brother,  so  its  perusal  may  become,  through  the  blessing  of  the  Lord, 
a  channel  of  grace  to  many  souls,  and  stir  up  some  to  enter  upon  the 
same  course  which  "Weitbrecht  found  to  be  accompanied  by  so  rich  a 
measure  of  the  Divine  presence  and  blessing. 

Henry  Venn,  Hon.  Sec.  G.  M.  8. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  reader  is  introduced  to  the  record  of  a  life  wMcli  might  have 
been  described  in  the  apostle's  brief  autobiography,  "  To  me  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain."  Glory  be  to  God  for  every  one  whom  He 
has  thus  made  an  evidence  of  Christianity  to  the  doubting,  and  a  spirit- 
stirring  example  to  the  faithfiiL 

We  may  well  beheve  that  God  will  not  allow  the  usefulness  of  such 
an  instance  of  the  power  of  His  Spirit  to  be  confined  within  the  narrow 
hmits  of  a  hfe,  but  that  He  will  graciously  cause  His  blessing,  which 
rested  on  the  man,  to  accompany  the  Memoir.  According  to  this,  my 
own  earnest  expectation,  I  have  a  good  hope  that  all  behevers,  who 
read  this  book,  will  be  led  to  lean  with  a  more  childlike  Mth  on  their 
heavenly  Father's  love  and  providential  care ;  to  realize  more  perfectly 
their  xmion  with  the  Son,  and  thus  to  draw  from  Him  more  peace,  and 
strength,  and  joy;  and  to  pray  more  fervently  for  the  abundant  "supply 
of  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ,"  that  they  may  hve  more  watchfully,  and 
work  more  dihgently,  to  the  glory  and  praise  of  God. 

It  is  dehghtful  to  think  that  many  afflicted  brethren  and  sisters  will 
feel .  their  burden  of  trouble  grow  hghter  as  they  read  this  book,  and 
that  the  rainbow  of  hope  will  be  formed  on  their  tears  as,  again  and 
again,  instances  of  consolation  abounding  by  Christ  lift  up  their  eyes 
from  their  trials  to  the  Sun  of  Eighteousness ! 

The  early  life  of  Weitbrecht  will  afiford  great  encouragement  to  Christ- 


xiv 


INTRODUCTION. 


ian  parents.  They  will  not  read  of  any  striking  event  suddenly  bringing 
about  his  conversion ;  but  they  will  see  God's  blessing  evidently  resting 
on  the  very  means  which  they  themselves  are  employing  in  conjunction 
with  the  prayer  of  faith.  The  Scripture  stories  of  the  Saviour's  love, 
early  taught  him  by  a  pious  mother,  the  Bible  instruction,  the  home 
example,  the  address  to  young  people,  the  preparation  for  confirmation, 
the  influence  of  pious  friends  and  relatives,  the  preacliing  of  a  faithful 
minister — all  took  part,  with  the  training  of  providential  events,  in  the 
formation  of  his  Christian  character 

One  of  the  happy  tendencies  of  this  volume  will  be,  we  trust,  to 
promote  love  among  brethren;  for  "Weitbrecht's  most  distmguishing 
mark,  next  to  his  love  of  his  Master,  was  his  love  of  the  Church,  that 
is,  of  all  who  are  joined,  by  a  living  faitli,  to  the  Head,  Christ.  He 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  able  to  understand  why  true  believers,  who 
differ  in  opinion,  should  not  be  united  in  love.  We  find  him  rejoicing 
in  itinerating  with  the  veteran  Lacroix ;  and,  after  a  day's  preachuig,  it 
never  seemed  to  occur  to  him  to  sit  down  and  commence  a  hot  contro- 
versy with  his  brother,  concerning  the  merits  of  their  respective  forms 
of  church  government ;  but  instead  of  this,  these  hard-working,  practi- 
cal Christians,  who  had  been  toiling  in  the  dust  all  day,  lifted  their  souls 
heavenwards  in  their  evening  hour  of  brotherly  communion,  by  con- 
versing, so  far  as  they  might,  on  the  probable  employments  and  joys  of 
the  redeemed  in  the  kingdom  prepared  for  the  blessed  of  the  Father. 
Yet  Weitbrecht  did  not  value  our  beloved  Church  of  England,  her 
articles,  her  hturgy,  and  her  government  the  less,  because  he  thus  loved 
"  all  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity,"  and  because  he 
would  have  thought  it  the  worst  of  schisms,  to  thrust  off  fi:om  him  a 
brother  born  of  the  same  Father,  bought  by  the  same  Saviour,  and 
taught  by  the  same  Spirit. 

This  disciple  of  Christ,  so  fiill  of  love,  was  altogether  without  that 
spurious  charity,  which  would  beheve  a  man  safe  whom  the  word  of 
God  shows  to  be  in  danger;  and  would  suffer  a  fellow-creature  to  go  on 
in  error,  rather  than  risk  offending  him  by  telling  him  the  truth.  He 
wa.s  observed  by  his  friends  to  show  much  kindness  towards  Roman 


INTRODUCTION. 


XV 


Catholics ;  whilst  it  is  plain  how  much  he  abhorred,  that  false  system, 
which  dishonors  God  by  corrupting  his  truth,  and  impedes  the  salvation 
of  men  by  keeping  back,  where  it  can,  the  Scriptures  from  the  people, 
and  by  most  unscripturally  mtruding  the  virgin,  saints,  and  sacrificing 
priests,  between  the  sinner  and  the  Saviour. 

The  Life  before  us  brings  out  very  plainly  what  the  missionary  spirit 
is.  It  shows  the  component  parts  of  this  to  be,  a  love  of  Christ,  and  a 
compassion  for  sinners.  We  see  that  a  man  possessing  it  is  usefiil 
wherever  he  goes.  At  college,  he  is  made  a  blessing  to  his  fellow- 
students.  The  ship  in  which  he  sails  becomes  his  parish.  His  feUow- 
traveller,  whether  met  on  the  plains  of  Bengal,  or  in  the  railway-carriage 
of  Germany,  has  divine  truth  brought  in  contact  with  his  mind.  His 
letters,  "out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart,"  awaken,  stimulate,  instruct, 
or  console. 

Many  ministers  at  home  will,  I  feel  assured,  be  glad  to  keep  company, 
for  a  tune,  with  one  to  whom  was  given  much  of  the  spirit  of  faith, 
liumiUty,  and  prayer;  and  who  was  "kept  by  the  power  of  God,"  per- 
severing to  the  end  in  devotedness  of  self  to  Christ.  In  doing  this, 
besides  having  great  spiritual  lessons  reimpressed  upon  our  minds,  we 
are  reminded  of  others  which  we  can  not  neglect  without  loss.  For 
instance,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  many  young  ministers,  when  they  have 
acquired  a  fluency  of  expression,  are  apt  to  neglect  due  preparation  for 
their  visiting,  their  cottage  and  school-room  lectures,  and  even  sometimes 
for  their  sermons ;  thus  offering  to  the  Lord,  upon  the  most  solemn 
occasions,  that  which  has  cost  them  nothing,  and  not  making  the  most 
of  precious  opportunities.  But  we  find  that  the  veteran  "Weitbrecht, 
even  m  his  last  tours,  though  gifted  as  a  preacher,  and  possessed  of 
great  quickness  in  seizing  upon  passing  occurrences,  and  in  replying  to 
objections  with  apt  and  striking  illustrations,  and  though,  when  itiner- 
ating, he  might  safely  have  repeated  the  same  things,  place  after  place, 
without  any  person  hearing  them  twice,  yet  he  never  went  out  to 
preach  to  the  heathen,  without  first  careftilly  arranging  his  thoughts 
upon  a  passage  of  Scripture,  and  writing  down  the  leading  points  of 
instruction. 


XVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


Again,  with  all  his  multipUed  labors,  and  the  incessant  demands 
upon  his  time,  Weitbrecht  never  neglected  the  cultivation  of  his  mind. 
Besides  feeding  his  soul  by  the  •  prayerful  reading  of  God's  word,  he 
managed  to  make  himself  master  of  various  standard  works.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that,  whilst  the  great  body  of  our  thoughts  should  ever 
flow  in  the  main  channel  of  ministerial  duty,  this  occasional  impouring 
of  ideas  of  a  different  character,  from  various  tributaries  of  knowledge, 
has  a  freshening  influence  on  the  main  stream. 

Weitbrecht's  example  frequently  suppHes  illustrations  of  the  heart- 
attracting  force  of  kindness.  "WhUst  he  was  thoroughly  faithful,  we 
never  find  him  placing  a  stumbling-block  in  his  path  of  usefulness  by 
unnecessary  harshness;  but,  on  the  contrary,  winning  his  way  by 
tlirowing  himself  into  the  employment,  or  drawing  out  the  knowledge 
of  those  on  whom  he  sought  to  bring  the  Gospel  to  bear.  A  cheerful, 
affectionate  manner  is  as  much  a  talent  to  be  used  for  Christ,  as  those 
which  are  esteemed  more  weighty. 

Young  Christians,  who  desire  to  devote  themselves  to  the  service  of 
Christ  as  missionaries,  but,  in  genuine  humility,  doubt  the  sufficiency  of 
their  abilities  for  this  great  work,  may  be  led,  by  this  narrative,  to  try 
what  "  prayers  and  pains  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus"  may  do.  Weit- 
brecht, when  a  boy,  was  not  thought  by  his  father  to  be  sufficiently 
talented  for  the  ministry ;  yet  he  became  distinguished  for  intelligence 
as  well  as  for  piety,  and  is  characterized,  by  a  most  competent  judge,  as 
"  one  of  the  leading  minds  engaged  in  laying  the  foundations  of  Church 
Missions  in  Bengal." 

Those  looking  forward  to  missionary  work  will  find  much  encourage- 
ment, and  valuable  hints  with  regard  to  their  preparatory  studies ;  and 
those  just  entering  upon  it  wiU  be  reminded,  that  their  future  usefiilness 
depends  very  greatly  on  their  giving  the  most  carefiil  attention  to 
shght  distinctions  of  pronunciation  during  their  first  year  in  the  country 
of  their  labors. 

Missionaaries  in  the  field  will  thank  God  for  this  book.  Those  over 
whom  the  subtle  influence  of  a  tropical  climate  is  gradually  throwing 
the  net  of  indolence,  will  be  stirred  up  by  the  energy  and  courageous 


INTRODUCTION. 


XVll 


perseverance  of  one,  whose  constitution  was  never  strong.  The  soft 
meshes  of  their  excuses  will  give  way,  as  they  become  animated  by  the 
vigor  of  Ms  zeal.  The  unsystematic  will  be  reminded,  that  the  welfare 
of  a  mission  station  greatly  depends  upon  close  and  industrious  atten- 
tion to  details ;  and  it  will  be  seen  how  the  able  preacher,  the  watchful 
pastor,  the  diligent  schoolmaster,  and  the  punctual  correspondent,  was 
a  good  house,  and  school,  and  church-builder ;  and  knew  how  to  keep 
those  he  employed  to  their  work  and  their  engagements,  without  failing 
to  secure  their  regard. 

"When  this  Memoir  reaches  a  missionary  who,  though  sunilarly  situ- 
ated to  "Weitbrecht,  neglects  to  itinerate,  as  he  turns  over  the  pages,  he 
wiU  begin  to  question  whether  he  is  a  missionary  at  all ;  and  we  may 
weU  hope  that,  almost  before  he  has  finished  it,  he  will  begm  to  make 
arrangements  for  a  tour,  notwithstanding  the  comforts  of  his  home,  the 
cautions  of  his  wife,  and  the  various  attractions  of  his  schools  and 
Christian  village. 

But  most  precious  will  this  narrative  be  to  the  faithful,  zealous  mis- 
sionary, who  has  prayed  earnestly  and  worked  hard  for  years,  and  yet 
has  seen  little  fruit  of  his  labors.  He  wiU  see,  in  "Weitbrecht,  one  sin- 
gularly well  endowed  for  the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the 
heathen,  a  man  of  prayer,  fiill  of  the  energy  of  faith  and  the  persever- 
ance of  love,  kept  waiting,  even  to  the  day  of  his  death,  for  great 
results  from  his  labors.  They  will  see  him  at  times  depressed,  yet  his 
faith  reviving ;  and  the  nearer  he  approached  the  end  of  his  course, 
the  brighter  was  his  hope  of  the  conversion  of  a  vast  multitude  of  the 
heathen  of  Indio.  God  is  more  honored  by  such  a  life  of  faith  under 
discouragement,  than  by  one  in  which  zeal  is  stimulated  by  the  excite- 
ment of  success.  The  conviction  that  no  adults  should  be  joined  to  his 
flock  but  those  whom  he  had  good  reason  to  beheve  sincere,  and  ready 
to  endure  loss  for  Christ's  sake,  kept  him  back  from  admitting  into  the 
visible  Church  many  whom  he  might  have  baptized.  "We  do  not  read 
of  whole  villages  embracing  the  Gospel;  yet  are  there  a  sufficient 
number  of  instances  of  persons  evidently  falling  asleep  in  Jesus,  who, 
without  a  missionary,  would  have  died  idolaters,  and  of  native  cate- 


xviii 


INTRODUCTION. 


chists,  who  lived  consistent,  holy  hves,  and  labored  long  for  tho  salva- 
tion of  their  countrymen,  to  make  one  praise  God  for  the  measure  of 
success  which  he  has  akeady  vouchsafed  to  the  Burdwan  Mission. 

The  reader  will  find,  in  this  Memoir,  an  open  statement  of  discourag- 
ing circumstances.  And  I  must  say,  that  nothing  struck  me  more,  in 
my  visits  to  missions  in  India,  than  the  caution  with  which  the  mission- 
aries spoke  of  their  flocks.  I  asked  of  each:  " "What  is  the  number  of 
converts  in  your  district?"    The  usual  answer  was :  "The  number  of 

nominal  Christians  is  ;"  stating  the  number.    They  seemed  to  be 

far  more  alive  to  the  deficiency  of  very  many  of  the  native  Christians 
in  spirituality  of  mind,  than  to  the  great  advance  which,  as  a  body, 
they  have  made  from  what  they  once  were.  The  result  of  a  visit  of 
an  independent  Christian  observer  to  then*  missions,  is  an  increased 
confidence  in  the  men  and  in  their  statements.  And  here  I  must  en- 
treat people  in  England  not  to  imagine  that,  because  a  person  has  been 
in  India,  he  is  therefore  possessed  of  accurate  information  with  respect 
to  missions.  He  may  have  lived  many  years  hi  India,  and  yet  not  have 
seen  one.  The  movement  in  the  Krishnaghur  district  took  place  in 
1838.  When  I  visited  it,  in  1848,  I  found  six  mission-stations,  each 
having  attached  to  it  a  Christian  village ;  a  boarding-school  for  the 
girls,  and  one  for  the  boys  of  native  Christians,  with  vernacular  day- 
schools  for  the  heathen  around ;  a  flourishing  Enghsh  school  for  natives 
at  the  chief  station ;  and  ten  European  missionaries  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  exercising  a  pastoral  supervision  over  four  thousand 
native  Christians.  Yet,  with  the  exception  of  the  civilians  and  indigo 
planters  residmg  in  the  district,  I  was  the  first  layman  who  had  ever 
taken  the  trouble  to  visit  these  interesting  missions,  since  the  movement 
ten  years  before,  although  they  are  only  about  sixty  mOes  from  Calcutta, 
and  easily  reached  therefrom ;  and  I  fear  that  I  should  not  have  accom- 
phshed  this,  had  not  a  kind  missionary  friend,  the  Rev.  W.  Keane, 
induced  me  to  go  with  him.  This  fact  will  show,  that  one  reason  why 
80  many  English,  who  have  been  in  India,  bring  back  an  evil  report  of 
the  work,  really  imaginmg  that  they  are  speaking  the  truth,  is,  that 
they  have  never  taken  the  trouble  to  go  out  of  then-  way,  to  examine 


INTRODUCTION. 


xix 


for  themselves  into  the  actual  state  of  the  missions.  They  forget  to 
mention  this,  and  so  their  loose  statements  often  have  a  weight  which 
they  do  not  deserve.  Let  me  beg  of  the  reader,  if  he  meet  with  a  per- 
son who  talks  strongly  against  missions,  to  catechise  him  a  little,  and 
see  what  foundation  he  has,  of  his  own  laying,  on  which  to  rest  his 
judgment.  Do  not  let  him  put  off  inquiry  with  general  assertions  and 
vague  insinuations.  Nothing  clears  up  the  view  of  the  actual  amount 
of  a  man's  knowledge,  so  much  as  a  httle  determined  questioning.  Did 
you  ever  visit  a  mission  station  ?  If  so,  which  ?  Did  you  go  inside 
it  ?  Did  you  examine  the  schools  ?  Did  you  receive  your  impression 
from  those  who  value  the  Gospel  themselves  ?  Was  it,  to  you,  a  mat- 
ter of  real  anxiety  to  ascertain,  by  dihgent  inquiry,  the  actual  moral 
and  spiritual  condition  of  the  native  Christian  flock  ?  How  often  will 
the  most  confident  assertions  be  found,  under  this  cross-examination,  to 
rest  upon  hearsay  I — ^perhaps  upon  the  reports  of  those  who  neglect  the 
truth  themselves,  and  despise  missionaries.  I  do  not  say  that  all  peo- 
ple in  India  can,  in  this  way,  examine  missions  for  themselves ;  but 
then,  no  one  who  has  not  done  this,  should  talk  as  if  he  had. 

In  one  year,  1850,  the  sum  of  £33,540  was  contributed  to  the  cause 
of  Protestant  missions,  by  Christians  in  India  itself;  and  the  annual 
amount  now  is  still  greater.  This  is  good  testimony  of  the  value  which 
those  in  the  country  who  feel  the  power  of  the  Gospel  themselves  place 
upon  missionary  efforts.  But  whatever  may  be  the  amount  of  success 
at  present  vouchsafed  to  missions  in  India,  this  is  not  the  motive  for 
the  efforts  of  behevers.  Our  Lord's  command,  "Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  Gospel  unto  every  creature,"  wiU  ever  make  the 
Bupportmg,  the  spreading,  the  persevering  with  missions,  an  imperative 
duty  with  all  who  love  Him.  For  He  has  said :  "  If  ye  love  me,  keep 
my  commandments."  We  rejoice  with  thankfulness  in  success ;  it  can 
not  but  be  a  stimulus ;  but  it  is  not  with  behevers  a  condition  of 
exertion.  Our  efforts  depend,  not  on  success,  but  on  Christ.  So  prone 
are  we  to  self-exaltation,  that  ill-success  for  a  time  may  be  needed,  to 
make  us  powerfully  realize  the  divine  lesson  of  the  4th  chapter  of 


INTRODUCTION. 


Zechariah,  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts."* 

The  Memoir  before  us  brings  dehghtfully  to  view,  that  there  is  an 
increasing  number  of  devoted  Christian  men  in  the  Company's  service. 
We  become,  in  the  perusal  of  this  volume,  acquainted  with  men,  wlio 
did  not  Hve  in  India  merely  to  make  money,  neglecting  the  moral  and 
spiritual  condition  of  those  around  them,  but  who,  full  of  Christian 
benevolence  and  energy,  were  "  zealous  of  good  works."  Some  estab- 
lish, support,  and  superintend  schools.  Others  bring  out  missionaries, 
and  maintain  them  at  their  own  cost ;  and  when  ill,  send  them  over  the 
seas,  at  flieir  own  charge,  to  labor  in  a  more  favorable  cHmate.  We 
find  the  military  officer  taking  a  missionary  with  him  on  his  surveying 
tours,  making  him  share  his  tent  and  his  table.  Great,  indeed,  are  the 
opportunities  of  usefulness  open  to  the  civU  and  military  officers  of  the 
Company.  May  God  multiply  the  Stewarts  and  Vetchs,  the  Cheeks, 
Langs,  and  Browns,  as  well  as  the  Thomasons  and  Lawrences,  in  the 
noble  Indian  service ;  and  bless  the  efforts  of  such  Christian  men,  gra- 
dually to  remove  one  of  the  greatest  obstacles  to  the  reception  of  the 
Gospel  by  the  natives,  the  inconsistent  conduct  of  European  nominal 
Christians !  What  a  cheering  example  is  the  late  missionary  meeting 
at  Peshawur,  the  extremity  of  our  empire,  presided  over  by  Major 
Edwardes,  the  hero  of  Moultan,  with  its  appeal  to  the  Church  Mission- 
ary Society  for  missionaries,  and  its  remarkable  contribution  of  Three 
Thousand  Pounds  to  its  funds ! 

There  is  nothing  in  this  Memoir  which  comes  out  with  more  painful 
prominence  than  the  urgent  need  there  is  of  more  missionaries  for  India. 
An  accurate  statistical  investigation  has  ascertained,  that,  taking  into 
account  aU  missionaries  of  all  denominations  of  Protestant  Christians, 
the  proportion  of  missionaries  to  the  population,  is  one  missionary  to 
350,000  people.  In  the  north-west  provinces,  there  are  54,000  towns 
and  villages,  and  only  49  misspnaries — not  one  missionary  to  a  thou- 
sand towns  and  villages.    And  of  the  few  missionaries  in  the  country, 

*  Here  follows  in  the  original  introduction  an  elaborate  exhibition  of  the  duties 
of  the  Indian  Government. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXI 


but  a  small  proportion  teel  able  to  itinerate.  What  a  call  is  this  to 
young  Christians  at  home,  gifted  with  good  health  and  energy,  and  a 
tolerable  facility  in  acquiring  a  language,  who  desire  to  give  themselves 
up  wholly  to  the  service  of  a  beloved  Master !  I  can  not  but  believe 
that  there  are  many  such  young  men  in  England,  who,  if  they  could 
feel  that  a  call  of  God  came  to  them,  would  be  led  to  say  gladly,  "Here 
am  I,  send  me."  Reader,  as  you  peruse  this  volume,  think  solemnly 
whether  God,  by  it,  is  calling  you.  Perhaps  this  is  aU  the  call  He  will 
give  you  to  a  high  and  holy  work,  to  which  a  signal  reward  of  grace  is 
promised  here  and  hereafter,  (Matt.  19  :  29.)  There  is  mucK  to  be 
done  at  home.  But  are  not  Hindus  feUow-creatures,  whose  souls  are 
as  precious  in  the  sight  of  God  as  those  of  our  countrymen  ?  Where 
is  it  said,  "Go  ye  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  those  at  home  only?"  If 
men  from  home  do  not  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  Hindus,  who  wO  ? 
And  does  not  all  ministerial  success  depend  upon  the  outpouring  of 
God's  Holy  Spirit  ?  And  has  there  not  been  an  evident  increase  in  the 
work  of  the  Spirit  at  home,  contemporary  with  the  increase  of  missions? 
May  not  the  two  be  connected  ?  Is  it  not  to  be  anticipated  that,  in 
proportion  as  the  members  of  the  true  Church  awake  to  their  duty 
of  evangelizing  the  heathen,  they  wUl  be  blessed  in  their  own  souls, 
and  in  their  labors  of  IcJve  at  home  ?  And  here  let  me  entreat  my 
brethren  in  the  ministry  not  to  refrain  from  sounding  the  call  for  mis- 
sionaries in  the  ears  of  the  young  men  of  their  congregations  for  fear 
of  the  retort,  "Why  do  you  not  go  yourself?"  We  sound  the  call,  as 
God's  ministers,  without  reference  to  whether  we  meet  with  a  retort  or 
not.  If  men  are  raised  up,  it  will  be  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  not  by 
our  persuasions ;  but  He  uses  us  to  sound  the  call.  We  have  doubtless 
examined  ourselves  and  our  circumstances  with  reference  to  this  sub- 
ject. Even  if  we  have  deceived  ourselves,  this  is  no  reason  why  we 
should  not  be  God's  instruments  of  helping  young  men  in  our  congrega- 
tions to  a  higher  place  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  than  wiU  be  given  to 
us.  If  we  judged  others,  the  retort  might  be  fan-.  But  if  we  do  but 
invite  our  brethren  to  a  great  privilege,  then  it  would  be  uncharitable  ; 
and  those  who  would  make  it,  are  not  the  men  required.    Let  us,  then, 


xxii 


INTRODUCTION. 


be  unrestrained  in  our  appeal,  and  not  mind  the  retort,  unless  it  be  felt 
to  be  just. 

University  men  I  think  of  Henry  Martyn,  and  lay  your  honors  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus.  Perhaps  you  may  help  to  wipe  off  the  reproach  from 
our  universities,  that  so  few  offer  themselves  for  the  work  of  missions. 
Reader,  are  you  at  school?  Remember  Fox  at  Rugby,  and  think 
whether  God  may  not,  if  you  ask  him,  prepare  you  for  this  holy  work. 
One  of  the  most  useful  and  energetic  missionaries  whom  I  saw  laboring 
in  India,  was  led,  when  only  nine  years  of  age,  to  devote  himself  to 
Christ,  to  carry  out  His  missionary  charge,  by  hearing  Weitbrecht  speak 
of  the  state  of  the  heathen  at  a  meeting  in  Germany,  before  he  went  to 
India  for  the  first  time.  But  besides  those  at  a  imiversity,  and  those 
preparmg  for  one,  there  are  others  who,  witliout  equal  advantages,  may 
yet  be  well  trained  mentally,  and  taught  of  God  in  spiritual  things,  and 
full  of  the  spirit  of  self-denial  and  tlie  energy  of  love.  Let  us  never 
forget  the  sublime  example  of  the  cobbler,  Carey,  mourning  over  the 
benighted  heathen,  and  teaching  himself  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  in 
preparation  for  the  work  of  translating  the  Bible,  whilst  still  making 
shoes  for  his  bread.  He  lived  to  see  £90,000  pass  through  his  hands 
for  the  work  which  he  had  at  heart,  to  be  appointed  a  Government  pro- 
fessor of  languages  in  the  college  of  Fort-WiUiam,  and  to  spend  the 
large  salary,  which  was  the  reward  of  his  learning,  in  the  enlightening 
of  the  ignorant.  Some  of  the  devoted  and  valuable  missionaries 
trained  at  Basle,  received  their  early  education  in  a  village  school. 
May  Christ  call  some  Matthews  from  the  receipt  of  custom,  and  some 
strong-minded  men  of  toil  from  their  occupation ;  may  He  put  forward 
youths,  gifted  with  mental  energy  rapidly  to  make  necessary  knowledge 
their  own,  and  vigor  of  character  to  concentrate  all  their  powers  on  a 
single  lofty  object,  and  endow  them  with  the  grace  of  His  Spirit,  with- 
out which  the  greatest  natural  talents  would  be  useless  for  the  mission 
work ;  and  may  He  then  send  them  forth  side  by  side  with  university 
men,  to  live  and  die  for  Him  in  the  outposts  of  His  army  I 

At  this  time,  when  the  call  for  missionaries  is  more  loudly  sounded 
than  at  any  period  of  the  Church's  history,  when  India  is  so  open  to 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxiii 


missionaries,  and  yet  so  scantily  supplied,  when  the  Church  Missionary 
Society  is  prepared  to  send  twenty  missionaries  to  China  as  soon  as 
suitable  men  offer  themselves,  how  does  God  reimpress  a  well-known 
lesson  on  our  minds  by  a  fact  recorded  in  this  book  I  How  was  it  that 
the  httle  kingdom  of  "Wurtemberg  was  so  prolific  in  missionaries  ?  "Was 
this  the  result  of  large  missionary  meetings  and  the  powerful  persuasion 
of  gifted  orators  ?  Stuttgart,  the  capital,  never  saw  a  pubhc  missionary 
meeting  until  1842,  after  Weitbrecht's  return  from  India.  "We  are  com- 
pelled to  trace  the  raising-up  of  so  many  faithful  missionaries  to  the 
prayers  offered  up  at  certain  quiet,  unobtrusive  devotional  meetings,  at 
which  the  miserable  state  of  the  heathen  was  often  brought  forward. 
The  Lord  of  the  harvest  blesses  obedience  to  His  Son's  command  to 
•pray.  May  this  be  a  time  of  united  prayer  amongst  the  people  of  God, 
and  may  we  all  see  that  it  has  been  so  by  His  sending  forth  the  num- 
ber of  laborers  and  the  kind  of  laborers  needed  for  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel  "  unto  every  creature"  1 

Mothers  and  sons  are  striving  for  cadetships  and  writerships;  clergy- 
men are  seeking  chaplaincies ;  sergeants  and  corporals  are  requesting 
that  they  may  be  reduced  to  the  ranks,  that  they  may  volunteer  for  the 
terrible  war  in  the  East ;  old  sailors  are  trying  to  disguise  their  years, 
that  they  may  be  allowed  to  stand  to  their  gun  again  before  the  heavy 
batteries  of  Russia :  and  shall  it  be  that  the  young  Christian  men  of 
England  hear  in  vain  of  the  need  which  He  who  bought  them  with  His 
own  blood  has  of  their  devoted  service — and  this,  too,  when  the  ave- 
rage duration  of  missionary  life  and  labor  in  India  is  found  by  statis- 
tical reports  to  be  nearly  seventeen  years,  and  is  decidedly  on  the  in- 
crease ?*  God  forbid.  May  part  of  His  gracious  answer  to  the  prayers 
of  His  people  on  the  day  of  humiliation,  (26th  April,  1854,)  be  the  in- 
fusing a  stronger  missionary  spirit  into  the  whole  body  of  behevers  in 
this  country,  so  that  they  may  be  more  fidly  awakened  to  the  great 
duty  of  "  holding  forth  the  "Word  of  life"  at  home  and  abroad,  wher- 

*  Of  the  147  missionaries  laboring  in  India  and  Ceylon  in  1S30,  50  were  still  labor- 
ing there  in  1S51,  in  health  and  usefulness.  Of  the  remainder  who  have  since  died 
or  retired,  20  labored  more  than  20  years  each. 


xxiv 


INTRODUCTION. 


ever  death  is  to  be  ibund !  May  parents  be  seen  by  the  Lord  praying 
that  a  beloved  son  may  be  made  by  Him  a  missionary,  and  congrega- 
tions asking  God  to  send  forth  some  of  their  number ;  and  then  may 
there  be  spread  abroad  a  Uberal  spirit,  to  supply  the  necessary  funds ! 
May  the  hearts  of  rich  Christians  be  warmed,  to  feel  the  chill  of  the 
formal  gumea  fee,  and  give  in  proportion  to  their  means !  May  all  feel 
that,  whilst  luxuries  are  used,  they  have  more  still  which  might  be 
given  to  God !  How  does  the  ready  gold  of  a  young  man  I  know,  who 
has  adopted  the  excellent  rule  of  devoting  one  tenth  of  his  wages  to 
God,  and  Uving  on  the  nine  tenths,  come  what  will,  rebuke  the  scanty 
offerings  of  many  far  better  off !  This  volume  gives  us  a  view  of  the 
kind  of  men  sent  out  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  Let  all  who 
thank  God  for  these,  maintain  the  impressiveness  of  the  call  which 
their  reserved  fund  for  China  has  enabled  the  Comanittee  recently  to 
make,  by  swelling  the  amount  of  the  funds  of  that  Society. 

In  endeavoring  to  bring  into  immediate  view  a  few  of  the  points  of 
interest  of  this  volume,  I  must  not  omit  the  subject  of  the  education 
of  females.  The  girls'  orphan  school  at  Burdwan  could  not  have  pros- 
pered as  it  did,  had  not  the  missionary's  wife  been  aided,  three  tunes 
successively,  by  a  fellow-laborer  sent  out  by  "  The  Society  for  the  Pro- 
motion of  Female  Education  in  the  East."  I  beheve  this  excellent 
Society  only  needs  to  be  more  widely  known  to  be  far  better  supported. 
The  vast  importance  of  efforts  for  the  education  of  native  females  is 
manifest.  There  are  symptoms  of  an  increased  demand,  arising  among 
the  natives  themselves,  for  the  education  of  their  females.  May  we  not 
hope  that  well-educated  ladies  will  offer  themselves  willingly  to  this 
Society,  that  they  may  be  employed  in  their  Saviour's  service  in  leading 
heathen  ghls  to  Him,  and  that  the  favored  women  of  England  will 
thankfully  offer  contributions  and  help  forward  this  good  work  ? 

The  compiler  requests  me  to  return  her  warmest  thanks  to  those 
kind  friends  who  have  lent  her  letters  written  to  them  by  her  late  hus- 
band, and  to  those,  also,  who  have  assisted  her  by  translating  the  let- 
ters which  were  in  German.  But  few  letters,  comparatively,  could  be 
selected  for  publication  out  of  many  v/nich  are  valuable,  and,  generally, 
only  portions  of  these. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXV 


The  work  of  selecting  and  arranging  the  materials  for  this  Memoir, 
and  writing  the  remarks  connectmg  them,  was  done,  and  well  done,  by 
the  compiler.  My  task  of  marking  portions  for  omission  in  the  manu- 
script she  prepared,  simple  to  describe,  but  not  easy  to  execute,  I  did 
not  undertake,  imtil  several  persons,  suggested  by  me  as  better  fitted 
for  it  and  more  at  leisure,  had  declined  it.  I  regret  that  it  has  had  to 
be  performed  during  a  period  of  very  great  occupation.  I  must  here 
mention  that,  in  order  that  the  character  of  'Weitbrecht  might  be  seen 
as  a  whole  in  all  its  simplicity,  I  have  not  hesitated  to  retain  some  pas- 
sages in  his  letters  which  show  his  tenderness  and  affection  as  a  hus- 
band, which,  had  his  widow  herself  reduced  the  manuscript,  she  would 
have  omitted. 

It  was  deemed  expedient  that  this  book  should  comprehend  a  history 
of  the  Burdwan  Mission.  This  has  been  borne  in  mind  by  the  com- 
piler. Tor  the  rest,  her  plan  has  been,  as  much  as  possible,  to  allow 
the  subject  of  this  Memoir  to  be  his  own  biographer.  The  simple  re- 
cord of  what  he  did  and  felt,  contained  in  his  journals  and  letters,  best 
presents  his  character  to  the  reader.  Some  of  the  descriptions  of 
fiiends  have  not,  however,  been  excluded ;  and  I  will  only  add,  that 
what  is  written  of  "Weitbrecht  by  those  who  knew  him  best,  accords 
with  my  own  impressions  of  his  character.  He  was  emphatically  the 
Church  missionary  of  Lower  Bengal  when  I  was  in  India.  I  believe 
many  a  reader  who  knew  him  in  life,  when  he  finishes  this  volume, 
win,  over  the  record  of  his  last  hours,  weep  tears  of  deep  feeling,  but 
scarcely  tears  of  sadness.  Thoughts  of  self  will  so  far  mingle  with 
those  of  tenderness  towards  this  lovable  evangelist,  with  whom  he  will 
seem  to  have  dwelt  in  the  mission  and  itinerated  through  the  jungle,  as 
to  draw  out  an  earnest  prayer  that  he  may  be  made  so  far  hke  Christ 
as  to  be  like  this.  His  devoted  disciple.  I  beUeve  that  no  one  who  is 
"  looking  unto  Jesus,"  no  one  who  is  praying  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  can  read  this  Memoir  without  being  drawn  thereby  nearer  to 
the  Saviour,  without  being  lifted  nearer  to  heaven.  May  the  Spirit  of 
God  so  dwell  in  his  own  words,  with  which  this  Memoir  is  seasoned, 
and  so  shine  in  His  own  work  in  the  sanctified  character  of  the  de- 
2 


XX  vi 


INTRODUCTION. 


parted,  that  wherever  the  people  of  God  mourn,  they  may  draw  com 
fort  from  this  book,  and  may  go  from  it,  with  a  simpler  faith,  to  the 
Book  of  hooks,  to  feed  on  the  same  spuitual  food  which  nourished  him  f 
May  it  be  blessed  wherever  the  lukewarm  linger,  and  the  cold  seem 
sinking  into  death ;  and  fax  and  wide,  at  home  and  abroad,  may  it  be 
an  instrument  of  God  in  awakening  a  missionary  spirit  among  the  slum- 
bering, and  in  feeding  it  among  the  faithful  I  I  earnestly  beUeve  that 
"  the  Father  of  mercies"  will  hear  prayer,  and  cause  him,  being  dead, 
to  speak  to  the  hearts  of  a  great  multitude. 

May  6,  1854.  Alfred  M.  W.  Christopher. 


MEMOIR  OF  30M  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Childhood  and  Youth — Enters  the  Missionary  Seminary  at  Basle—Time 
spent  there — Correspondence. 

1802-1828. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  a  native  of  the  little  king- 
dom of  Wurtemberg,  in  the  south  of  Germany,  and  was  born 
at  Schorndorf,  a  small  provincial  town,  a  few  miles  distant 
from  Stuttgart,  the  capital.  It  contains  about  four  thousand 
inhabitants,  and  has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  favored  with  an 
enlightened  ministry ;  but  spiritual  life  flourishes  there  re- 
markably, through  the  influence  of  certain  devotional  meet- 
ings, the  nature  and  history  of  which  will  be  found  in  a  note 
at  the  end  of  the  volume;  to  this  account  the  particular 
attention  of  the  reader  is  dii'ected.  Such  has  been  the 
blessing  connected  with  these  unpretending  assemblies,  that 
some  ten  or  twelve  missionaries  have  gone  forth  from  this 
one  little  town,  within  the  last  twenty  years.* 

*  About  twenty  years  ago  it  was  a  fact,  that  more  than  half  the 
Protestant  missionaries  who  had  gone  into  the  heathen  world,  were  from 
Wurtemberg;  but  the  more  general  diffosion  of  a  missionary  spuit 
throughout  Christendom  has  now  lessened  the  proportion,  though  not 
considerably. 


28  MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


"  The  natural  character  of  the  Wurtemberger,  when  allied 
to  piety,  is  peculiarly  pleasing ;  being  marked  by  a  certain 
manly  straightforwardness,  tempered  with  singular  tender- 
ness of  affection — by  persevering  energy,  combined  with 
sound  common  sense — and  by  an  artless  simplicity,  adorned 
with  the  freshness  of  innocent  wit,  and  the  sunshine  of  unfail- 
ing cheerfulness.  Few  Wurtembergers  fail  to  exhibit  these 
features  in  their  national  character,  more  or  less ;  and  it  will 
be  seen  that  they  were  developed  in  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  to  a 
very  remarkable  degree.  In  him,  the  freshness  of  innocent 
wit  and  the  sunshine  of  unfailing  cheerfulness,  formed  a 
peculiarly  pleasing  contrast  with  the  sombre  shade  of  his 
constitutional  pensiveness."  * 

Mr.  Weitbrecht's  family  have  resided  for  several  centuries 
in  Schorndorf.  His  grandfather  and  great-grandfather  lived 
to  be  very  aged  men.  The  latter  retained  the  office  of  bur- 
gomaster, which  has  long  been  hereditary  in  the  family,  till 
he  was  ninety  years  old,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-two. 
The  family  are  much  esteemed  and  respected  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  senior  was  educated  for  the 
ministry,  but  was  prevented  by  circumstances  from  entering 
it.  He  had  fifteen  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  up  to 
maturity.  Of  these,  seven  were  sons.  The  eldest  was 
called  to  serve  in  the  army,  in  the  long  and  disastrous  war 
of  that  period,  and  afterwards,  upon  his  father's  death, 
succeeded  to  his  business,  and  was  also  burgomaster  of  his 
native  town  until  his  death,  when  a  younger  brother  was 
chosen  to  the  office,  who  still  holds  it.  The  second  brother 
studied  for  the  ministry  in  the  University  of  Tubingen ;  and, 
after  his  own  education  was  finished,  filled,  for  two  years, 
the  office  of  tutor  to  two  royal  princes,  which  led  to  his  early 
advancement,  and  he  has  been,  for  many  years,  a  Dean  in 

*  This  description  of  the  "Wurtemberger  is  from  the  pen  of  a  Swiss 
missionary. 


CHILDHOOD  AND  YOUTH. 


29 


the  Lutheran  Church.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  the 
third.  One  of  the  younger  brothers  is  likewise  a  clergyman, 
and  was,  for  some  time,  a  tutor  in  the  Missionary  Seminary 
at  Basle,  but  his  health  did  not  allow  of  his  long  continuance 
there. 

The  eldest  sister  was  married  to  a  missionary,  and  died  in 
Sierra  Leone,  in  1839.  All  the  survivors  are  pursuing  their 
several  courses,  honorably  and  usefully.  A  remarkable 
blessing,  in  spiritual  things,  has  rested,  and  continues  to  rest 
on  the  family.  All  the  surviving  brothers  are  pious,  and 
their  children,  who  have  grown  up  to  maturity,  exhibit  the 
same  character.  Mr.  Weitbrecht  considered  that  the  family 
owed  much,  under  God's  favor,  to  their  elder  relatives, 
especially  their  maternal  grandparents,  both  of  whom  were 
very  earnest  Christians. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  not  distinguished  by  any 
remarkable  gifts  or  talents.  He  was  slow  in  his  mode  of 
speaking,  and  not  quick  in  acquiring  his  lessons ;  and  his 
father  did  not  consider  him  so  clever  or  so  promising  as  his 
brothers.  His  health,  from  early  childhood  to  mature, 
years,  was  always  delicate,  sometimes  alarmingly  so.  He 
was  obedient,  industrious,  possessed  of  a  very  kind,  gentler 
affectionate  disposition,  and  manifested  a  rare  uprightness 
and  love  for  truth,  a  winning  simplicity  and  ingenuousness, 
a  sweet  temper,  and  amiable  and  obliging  manners.  He 
was  also  very  susceptible  of  religious  impressions,  and  was 
singularly  diligent  and  faithful  in  the  performance  of  any 
duty  intrusted  to  him  ;  but  he  was  not  considered  lively  or 
energetic  in  his  youth,  though  these  qualities  were  developed 
in  him,  so  remarkably,  in  after  years.  His  father  did  not 
deem  him  suited  for  any  intellectual  calling,  and  he  was 
trained  in  habits  of  practical  usefulness,  with  a  view  to  his 
future  employment  in  secular  business. 

His  early  education  was  thoroughly  good  and  classical,  as 


30  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


well  as  eminently  Christian.  It  was  his  father's  custom,  to 
cause  his  sons  to  converse  in  Latin,  both  with  himself  and 
with  each  other,  and  to  correspond  occasionally  in  the  same 
language.  His  own  education  enabled  him  to  follow  out 
this  plan  with  them,  and  the  adoption  of  it  gave  the  brothers 
a  readiness  and  facility  in  this  useful  tongue,  which  was  a 
good  mental  preparation  to  them  for  future  study.  In  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  case,  it  laid  an  excellent  foundation  for  the 
thorough  acquisition  of  other  languages,  for  which  he  became 
so  remarkable  in  after  life.  The  family  was  a  very  affec- 
tionate and  united  one,  as  the  following  little  note,  written  in 
1816  to  his  eldest  brother,  when  he  was  absent  on  military 
duty,  and  which  has  been  preserved,  will  show : 

"  Dear  Brother  :  I  wish  much  to  visit  you,  but  I  am 
obliged  to  go  to  school,  and  I  am  not  strong  enough  to  take 
so  long  a  journey.  I  often  regret  our  separation ;  and  the 
more  so,  because  our  dear  father  would  be  glad  of  your 
help  ;  but  if  God  preserve  my  health,  I  intend,  by  and  by,  to 
learn  his  trade  and  assist  him.  I  send  you  a  little  present, 
as  a  token  of  my  love.  Depend  on  the  dear  Saviour,  and 
confide  in  Him  entirely.  He  can  help  you  in  all  your  ways. 
I  spent  New  Year's  evening  with  the  Maiers,  and  we  drew 
lots — (a  custom  among  the  Moravian  Brethren,  and  adopted 
from  them  by  the  pious  people  in  Wurtemberg.)  Your  text 
was  a  very  nice  one ;  I  copy  it  for  you,  and  inclose  it. 
Little  Christiana  is  a  dear  child  ;  she  kisses  the  letters  which 
come  from  you.  I  greet  you  cordially,  and  remain  your 
most  affectionate  brother,  James." 

About  the  time  this  letter  was  written,  the  Russians 
marched  through  Germany,  on  their  way  to  France,  and 
they  were  quartered  upon  all  the  town's-people,  so  that  his 
father's  house  was  seldom  free  from  them.  They  were  so 
irregular  and  wild,  that  they  were  much  dreaded,  and  Mr. 


A  MOTHER'S  DEATH. 


31 


Weitbrecht's  brothers  shrunk  from  them  ;  but  his  guileless 
nature  touched  the  tenderer  feelings  of  these  usually  rough 
and  brutal  men,  and  they  often  took  him  to  the  stables, 
showed  him  their  horses,  and  allowed  him  to  ride  upon 
them,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  all  his  juvenile  compan- 
ions. The  same  guilelessness  made  him  an  especial  favorite 
with  his  large  circle  of  relatives,  who  chiefly  resided  in  a 
neighboring  town,  and  he  was  sometimes  permitted  to  visit 
them  as  a  holiday  recreation.  His  surviving  cousins  still 
delight  to  talk  of  the  days  when  he  used  to  come  among 
them,  and  amuse  them  by  his  innocent  remarks. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  has  left  a  history  of  his  spiritual  progress 
during  his  childhood  and  youth,  in  which  he  traces  it  with 
simplicity  and  minuteness.  It  was  prepared  for,  and  inserted 
by  him  in,  an  address  he  delivered  on  leaving  the  Missionary 
Seminary  at  Basle,  according  to  the  usual  custom  of  the 
students  who  are  trained  there.    We  subjoin  it  as  it  stands : 

{^Translation.) — "  The  2d  of  April,  1802,  was  a  day  of  joy 
and  sorrow  in  my  paternal  home.  A  little  sister  died  in  the 
morning,  and  I  was  born  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day ; 
and  on  that  which  followed,  I  was  introduced  into  the  con- 
gregation of  Christ's  Churclt  by  baptism.  I  have  to  this 
hour  a  lively  recollection  of  the  scenes  of  my  early  childhood, 
and  how  my  dear  mother,  while  attending  to  her  usual 
duties,  daily  related  to  me  stories  of  the  Saviour,  and  espe- 
cially of  His  love  to  the  little  ones  ;  and  I  can  but  trace  the 
first  impressions  made  on  my  heart,  to  that  beloved  parent, 
though  before  I  could  fully  appreciate  her  value,  before  I  was 
conscious  how  great  a  gift  she  was,  or  could  thank  God  for 
her,  she  was  attacked  by  a  malady,  which  soon  showed  us 
we  must  give  her  up.  Her  last  prayer  to  God  was,  that  He 
would  gather  the  five  tender  lambs  she  was  leaving  mother- 
less into  His  arms,  and  hide  them  in  His  bosom ;  and  that, 
finally,  they  might  become  partakers  of  heavenly  happiness. 


32  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

To  a  friend,  who  inquired  of  her  if  she  were  not  anxious 
about  her  children,  she  replied :  '  Oh!  no ;  I  have  committed 
them  to  Him  who  is  able  to  keep  them.'  When  within  an 
hour  of  her  last,  she  uttered  the  following  beautiful  verse, 
which  imparted  to  my  mind,  young  as  I  was,  (only  six 
years,)  a  taste  for  heavenly  things  :* 

"  Thus  heaven  is  gathering,  one  by  one,  in  its  capacious  breast, 
All  that  is  pure,  and  permanent,  and  beautiful,  and  blest ; 
The  family  is  scattered  yet,  though  of  one  home  and  heart, 
Part  militant,  in  earthly  gloom ;  in  heavenly  glory,  part ; 
But  who  can  speak  the  rapture,  when  the  circle  is  complete, 
And  all  the  children,  sundered  now,  before  their  Father  meet  ? 
One  fold,  one  Shepherd,  one  employ,  one  everlasting  home  : 
'  Lo,  I  come  quickly.'    '  Even  so,  Amen,  Lord  Jesus  come !' " 

— Rev.  E.  H.  Bickersteth. 

"  The  God  of  the  orphan  looked  on  us,  and,  in  due  time, 
gave  us  a  second  mother,  who,  like  her  predecessor,  walked 
in  His  fear,  and  strove  to  train  the  children  committed  to 
her  care  in  His  knowledge  and  love.  Her  kind  efforts  and 
earnest  prayers  were  not  in  vain  for  us ;  and,  as  I  grew 
older,  I  felt  increasingly  that  that  man  alone  is  blessed  who 
feareth  the  Lord,  and  who  delighteth  in  His  covenant.  My 
mother  urged  me  to  frequent  a  service  held  for  the  young 
on  Sunday  afternoons,  by  an  old  experienced  Christian 
brother,  and  to  his  exhortations  I  date  the  first  workings  of 
grace  in  my  heart.f  During  my  ninth  year  I  can  distmctly 
remember,  that  the  Spirit  strove  with  me,  and  that  it  often 

*  She  entered  mto  the  joy  of  her  Lord  on  the  1st  March,  1808 ;  and 
just  forty-four  years  later,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  departed  to  be  with  Christ  on 
the  anniversary  of  the  same  day.  The  sentiments  contained  in  the  Grer- 
man  verses  she  repeated  in  her  dying  hour,  are  expressed  ia  the  lines 
Inserted  above. 

f  See  Appendix,  No.  1. 


EARLY  IMPRESSIONS. 


33 


seemed  to  me  as  if  I  heard  His  voice  saying,  '  Begin  at  once 
to  give  thyself  to  Christ  and  His  service,  if  thou  wilt  be 
His  ;'  and  often  did  I,  with  childlike  simplicity,  petition  for  a 
new  heart  to  be  given  me.  But,  alas  !  these  early  buddings 
of  grace  were  soon  nipped  by  the  influence  of  ungodly  com- 
panions, and,  for  a  while,  they  disappeared.  I  even  felt 
ashamed  of  prayer,  though  the  watchful  Shepherd  never  lost 
sight  of  me,  and  many  were  the  ways  in  which  He  reminded 
me  that  His  eye  was  still  upon  me.  Yet,  like  other  and 
older  backsliding  children,  my  deceitful  heart  continually 
assured  me,  that  there  was  a  long  life  before  me,  and  abund- 
ance of  time  to  be  converted.  This  went  on  till  the  period 
of  confirmation,  when  I  was  visited  anew,  and  more  power- 
fully awakened.  The  Saviour  of  children,  and  of  sinners, 
approached  my  heart  again,  and  melted  it  by  His  love,  ask- 
ing me  the  self-same  question  He  put  to  backsliding  Peter, 
'Lovest  thou  me*?'  and  helping  me  to  return  the  same 
answer  as  the  erring  disciple,  '  Lord,  Thou  knowest  all 
things,  Thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee.'  With  tears  of 
repentance  and  joy,  I  then  renewed  my  baptismal  covenant, 
in  the  ordinance  of  confirmation.  Soon  afterwards  I  entered 
on  the  business  of  life,  according  to  the  wish  of  my  father. 

"  My  happy  state  of  mind  did  not  continue  long ;  for,  as 
is  often  the  case  with  the  youthful  and  inexperienced,  I  be- 
came vain  and  self-confident,  ceasing  to  watch  and  to  pray ; 
though,  at  the  earnest  desire  of  my  mother,  I  diligently  fre- 
quented the  religious  meetings,  and,  now  and  then,  a  word  I 
heard  there  fell  as  it  were  into  good  ground.  Still,  on  the 
whole,  my  heart  was  cold  and  dead,  though  I  was  preserved 
from  all  outward  sins. 

"  But  the  Lord,  ever  full  of  mercy  and  of  grace,  would 
not  that  I  should  continue  long  in  this  estranged  condition, 
and,  in  His  tender  love,  He  employed  more  decided  means 
to  bring  me  back  to  His  fold.    When  I  was  about  seventeen 
2* 


34  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

years  old,  my  dear  father  fell  seriously  ill,  and  we  were 
soon  made  painfully  aware  that  he  would  not  continue  to 
tarry  among  us  much  longer.  A  touching  scene  ensued. 
Around  the  sick  couch  of  our  dying  parent,  stood,  weeping, 
the  sorrowing  mother  and  nine  children,  of  whom  the  young- 
est was  but  a  year  old.  This  grief  was  heavy  indeed,  and 
once  more  drove  me  to  the  Saviour ;  not,  at  fii'st,  for  my- 
self, but  for  the  preservation  of  my  father's  earthly  life. 
The  prayer  was  not  granted,  and  the  hour  of  his  dissolution 
rapidly  approached.  Then  my  heart  was  lifted  up,  the  weak 
faith  became  strong,  and  I  was  enabled  to  say,  '  Lord,  if 
Thou  wilt  take  away  our  father,  surely  Thou  wilt,  according 
to  Thine  own  gracious  promise,  be  our  Father  and  Support- 
er.' And  thus  it  was  :  the  earthly  parent  was  called  home, 
and  the  Heavenly  One  continued  to  lead  me,  through  varied 
and  painful  experiences,  among  them  very  weak  health,  into 
the  full  knowledge  and  love  of  God. 

"  A  year  after  my  father's  death,  I  resolved  to  change 
the  business  on  which  I  had  entered,  in  compliance  with  his 
wish,  for  another,  as  it  did  not  agree  with  my  constitution. 
I  consulted  with  some  friends,  and  decided  on  going  to  a 
relative  in  a  neighboring  town,  to  occupy  myself  with  him. 
This  change,  however,  was  unsatisfactory  as  it  respected  my 
health,  which  became  still  more  affected  than  before ;  and 
the  bodily  weakness  was  made  more  distressing  by  the  con- 
stant war  between  light  and  darkness  within  me,  for  the  full 
light  of  grace  had  not  arisen  on  my  soul.  The  period  that  I 
remained  in  this  place  was  a  very  trying  one  to  me,  and  I  was 
often  so  overcome  with  melancholy  feelings  that  every  thing 
appeared  dark  and  gloomy.  I  was  divinely  helped  on,  and 
helped  through  these  days  of  darkness,  and  a  secret  hope  often 
possessed  my  soul,  that  these  moments  of  grief  would  be  fol- 
lowed by  hours  of  rejoicing ;  and  thus  my  gloomy  path  was 
occasionally  lighted  up.    In  due  time,  I  was  led,  in  the 


THE  DAT  OP  SALVATION. 


35 


course  of  business,  to  Stuttgart,  where  it  was  my  happiness 
to  dwell  with  pious  people :  and,  while  there,  the  day  of  sal- 
vation came  to  me  indeed.  The  powerful  and  evangelical 
preaching  of  the  sainted  Holfacker,  revealed  to  me  more 
and  more  of  the  plague  of  my  own  heart,  and,  after  many 
an  internal  struggle,  and  much  earnest  prayer,  the  blessed 
hour  arrived  when  I  was  to  find  Christ,  and  to  be  united  to 
Him,  to  be  separated  no  more.  Never  shall  I  forget  that 
Good  Friday,  when,  on  kneeling  at  His  table.  He  truly  man- 
ifested Himself  unto  me,  in  the  breaking  of  bread,  impart- 
ing to  me  the  happy  assurance  that  all  my  sins  were  anni- 
hilated, that  I  had  a  new  heart  given  me,  a  new  spirit  put 
within  me,  a  lively  faith,  and  full  and  complete  pardon. 
Then  followed  that  precious  '  peace  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing,' and  that  'joy  which  no  man  taketh'  from  us. 

"  I  had,  for  some  time  previously,  felt  an  earnest  desire 
to  devote  myself  to  missionary  work.  My  cousin  Pfander 
and  another  friend  had  done  so,  and  this  had  given  a  new 
impulse  to  my  zeal ;  but  I  was  deeply  convinced,  that  if  my 
desire  were  of  God,  He  would  bring  it  about,  and  that  if  I 
tried  in  my  own  wisdom,  to  effect  a  change  in  my  circum- 
stances, I  might  sin  against  Him,  and  displease  Him.  I 
prayed  much  for  His  guidance,  and  that  I  might  not  run 
contrary  to  His  intention ;  and  after  waiting  on  Him  for 
eighteen  months,  and  when  I  had  brought  my  own  mind 
into  a  state  of  subjection,  I  wrote  to  Basle,  and  received  in 
return  an  invitation  to  come  there." 

Before  entering  immediately  on  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  resi- 
dence at  Basle,  it  may  be  observed,  that  "  the  Missionary 
Seminary  there  was  established  in  1817,  after  the  fall  of 
Napoleon,  as  a  suitable  token  of  gratitude  to  God,  for  the 
deliverance  of  Germany  from  the  yoke  of  France.  Basle, 
in  Switzerland,  was  chosen  for  its  locality,  partly,  because 
it  was  supposed,  that  such  an  institution  would  there  en- 


36  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

counter  less  opposition  from  the  secular  power  than  in 
Germany,  and  partly,  because  many  of  the  men  who  found- 
ed it  were  inhabitants  of  that  rich  commercial  city,  then,  as 
now,  distinguished  for  the  piety  of  its  ministers,  and  of  many 
of  their  hearers.  It  also  forms  the  connecting  link  between 
Switzerland  and  South- Western  Germany,  and  is  admirably 
adapted  to  be  the  centre  of  a  Missionary  Society,  intended 
to  unite  Christians  of  the  two  countries.  An  intimate  con- 
nection has  existed  for  many  years,  between  this  seminary 
and  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  and  some  of  the  Basle 
students  have  usually  been  sent  to  London  every  year,  to 
complete,  in  the  Church  Missionary  College  at  Islington, 
their  preparation  for  the  stations  to  which  they  are  des- 
tined."* 

"  When  Mr.  Weitbrecht  proceeded  to  Basle,  at  the  close 
of  1825,  the  seminary  there  was  presided  over  by  the  late 
Rev.  Mr.  Blumhardt,  its  first  superintendent ;  a  man  of 
great  learning,  amazing  industry,  profound  wisdom,  and  apos- 
tolic piety ;  himself  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  as  the  subse- 
quent inspectors  have  also  been.  This  remarkable  man 
united  the  character  of  an  affectionate  father  and  counsellor, 
with  that  of  a  most  able  tutor  to  his  pupils.  It  is  not  sur- 
prising to  find,  that  two  persons  like  this  tutor  and  pupil,  in 
whom  there  existed,  according  to  the  opinion  of  several 
friends,  many  points  of  similarity,  should  become  ardently 
and  permanently  attached.  The  course  of  instruction  adopt- 
ed at  Basle  is  thoroughly  practical,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
solid  and  comprehensive,  embracing  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin, 
and  English,  the  various  branches  of  theological  learning, 
and  the  principles  of  scientific  knowledge.  Besides  the  lec- 
tures given  in  the  seminary,  the  students  usually  attend 

*  The  expense  of  his  education  is  paid,  by  the  English  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society,  to  the  College  at  Basle,  for  every  student  supphed  to 
the  ranks  of  their  laborers,  from  that  institution. 


LIFE   IN   THE  BABLE  SEMINARY. 


37 


some  of  the  classes  of  the  University  of  Basle,  where  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  matriculated.  Making  every  allowance  for  the 
pious  diligence  of  the  pupils,  it  must  be  acknowledged  by 
all  who  are,  in  any  way,  acquainted  with  this  seminary,  that, 
as  an  educational  institution  for  the  training  of  ministers 
and  missionaries,  it  has  been  wonderfully  successful ;  for 
many  of  the  students,  on  entering,  possess  only  the  know- 
ledge which  has  been  acquired  in  some  village  school. 
Mr.  Weitbrecht's  classical  attainments  placed  him,  at  once, 
in  a  somewhat  advanced  position  in  the  seminary,  and,  in 
the  course  of  his  second  year,  he  joined  the  theological  class 
in  the  university.  His  deep  and  unaffected  piety,  his  open, 
affable,  manly,  and  cheerful  character,  and  his  active  habits, 
made  him  a  general  favorite  with  all  the  students ;  many  of 
whom  looked  up  to  him,  as  a  pattern  of  a  Christian,  and  a 
true  missionary,  in  heart  and  purpose.  He  used  diligence 
in  all  his  studies,  and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  his  tutors, 
all  of  whom  loved  and  respected  him  greatly.  In  the  dark, 
dreary  winter,  he  would  get  up  long  before  day,  and  read 
the  New  Testament  in  Greek  with  one  of  his  fellow-students, 
and  see  that  all  the  rooms  were  properly  heated,  before  the 
rest  of  the  inmates  rose.  He  was  always  ready  for  any 
service  for  the  good  of  his  fellow-men,  whether  it  were  of  a 
temporal  or  spiritual  nature  ;  and  always  the  foremost,  when 
work  was  to  be  done,  whether  mental  or  manual.  In  Basle, 
the  hours  of  recreation  are  employed  in  the  workshop,  in 
the  woodyard,  and  in  the  garden,  which  the  students  assist 
in  cultivating ;  indeed,  they  are  obliged,  in  many  respects, 
to  be  their  own  servants,  an  arrangement  which  is  at  once 
economical  and  beneficial,  both  to  body  and  mind. 

In  a  little  sketch  of  some  of  his  missionary  brethren, 
drawn  up  a  few  years  later  in  India,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  thus 
describes  the  spirit  of  the  Mission  Seminary,  as  it  existed 
when  he  was  there : 


38  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

"  The  whole  establishment,  consisting  of  about  sixty  in- 
dividuals, presents  the  beautiful  picture  of  a  family^  living 
in  the  most  imbroken  harmony  :  humility,  peace,  and  love 
reign  there,  in  a  higher  degree  than  the  writer  ever  remem- 
bers to  have  witnessed  elsewhere.  A  sweet  spirit  of  prayer 
pervades  the  place,  which  is  fostered  by  voluntary  meetings 
between  the  members  of  the  various  classes  and  teachers. 
It  may  truly  be  said,  that  prayer  and  praise  resound  through 
the  dwelling  continually  ;  and  this,  doubtless,  is  the  keystone 
to  the  happy  spirit  of  its  inmates.  It  were  indeed  devoutly 
to  be  wished,  that  every  missionary,  who  leaves  that  place, 
might  ever  retain  the  spirit  of  simplicity  and  piety  which  he 
brings  thence,  and  keep  alive,  in  its  full  warmth,  the  feeling, 
which  so  animates  both  teachers  and  students  there,  namely, 
that  a  missionary  needs  more  than  the  mere  framework  of 
human  learning,  and  that  his  own  soul  must  stand  in  the 
right  position  before  God,  if  he  wish  to  become  a  useful  and 
efficient  laborer  among  the  heathen." 

"  Mr.  Weitbrecht  soon  became  the  leader  and  instructor 
of  a  band  of  young  men  in  the  town,  who  met  together  for 
mutual  edification  and  prayer ;  and  he  frequently  presided 
at  a  weekly  religious  meeting,  which  was  in  charge  of  the 
junior  tutors  and  senior  students  of  the  Missionary  Semi- 
nary. He  held  early  morning  prayers  in  the  town  prison, 
and  taught  Sunday-school  classes  there  likewise ;  and  after 
being  licensed  to  preach,  he  embraced  every  opportunity 
of  publicly  declaring  the  Gospel  of  salvation,  in  various 
country  churches  in  the  Canton  of  Basle,  and  the  neighbor- 
ing places  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden.  He  once  accom- 
panied a  fellow-student  on  a  little  tour,  for  this  purpose, 
at  Christmas ;  and,  on  coming  to  a  lonely  vilage,  quite  se- 
cluded in  the  mountains,  they  found  the  pastor's  family 
busily  occupied,  in  preparing  bread  for  the  New  Year. 
He,  at  once,  offered  his  ready  help,  by  which  they  soon  ac- 


INFLUENCE  OVER  HIS  FELLOW-STUDENTS.  39 

complished  their  laborious  task;  and  when  their  bread 
was  baked,  he  assisted  the  good  family  in  mending  and  ar- 
ranging their  vessels  in  the  kitchen.  Thus  he  employed 
his  morning ;  and  then,  after  partaking  of  their  simple  din- 
ner, he  set  forth  to  preach  in  another  tillage,  belonging  to 
this  parish,  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God ;  which  he  did 
with  such  unction  and  blessing,  as  warmed  the  hearts  of  his 
hearers."  "  My  most  happy  hours,"  writes  the  brother, 
Mr.  Hausmeister,  who  gives  the  above  characteristic  anec- 
dote, "  were  spent  in  his  society,  and  much  of  my  own  hid- 
den life  is  interwoven  with  his.  We  were  in  the  same  class, 
and  his  age,  and  the  depth  of  his  piety  gave  him  a  great 
influence  over  us  all,  which  was  increased  by  his  entire 
freedom  from  assumption;  for  though  he  was  felt  by  us,  to 
be  so  superior  to  ourselves,  he  acted  as  the  kindest  and 
humblest  brother,  to  the  youngest  and  weakest  among  us. 
He  was  indeed  like  the  apostle,  '  gentle  towards  us,  even  as 
a  nurse  cherisheth  her  children ;'  and  possessing  so  sound  a 
judgment,  and  so  much  common  sense,  he  was  always  able 
to  give  us  the  wisest  counsels,  in  the  little  difficulties  of 
our  daily  course.  In  summer  time,  we  often  formed  a  circle 
around  him,  as  we  sat  together  in  the  garden,  and  there, 
with  our  Latin  and  Greek  books  open  before  us,  we  conversed 
with  him  over  our  studies,  and  always  found  such  assistance 
from  him,  that  our  troubles  were  lightened.  His  friendly 
manner  invited  us  to  confide  in  him ;  and  when  we  were 
dull  and  depressed,  which  was  often  the  case  with  me,  his 
joyful,  buoyant  spirit,  and  Christian  serenity  soothed  and 
comforted  me.  He  did,  indeed,  exercise  a  very  blessed  in- 
fluence upon  my  whole  being ;  for  I  was  not  only  young  in 
years,  but  in  Christian  experience,  having  entered  the  Christ- 
ian Church  not  long  before.  The  old  Adam  was  still  strong 
in  me,  and  much  in  Christianity  was  new  to  me.  He  watched 
over  me  with  motherly  tenderness,  sometimes  faithfully 


40  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


bringing  my  inconsistencies  before  me,  and  then,  when  he 
saw  me  overwhelmed  by  a  deep  sense  of  my  sinfulness,  he 
comforted  and  encouraged  me,  kneeled  down  beside  me, 
and  united  with  me  in  beseeching  Divine  strength  and  grace 
to  help  me  on.  He  loved  me  for  that  Saviour's  sake,  in 
whom  we  were  both  one,  and  who  was  '  all  and  in  all '  to 
him.  He  never  allowed  an  unguarded  expression  to  escape 
his  lips,  with  reference  to  my  former  faith ;  never  once  said 
of  this  or  that  fault,  it  is  a  Jewish  one,  which  I  confess  en- 
deared him  to  me  exceedingly.  His  forbearance  with  me 
often  astonished  me,  and  still  does  when  I  think  of  it.  Our 
time  was  precious,  but  he  had,  now  and  then,  half  an  hour 
to  spare,  and  would  come  to  my  room  and  invite  me  to  an 
evening  walk.  In  the  beautiful  environs  of  Basle,  surrounded 
by  our  mountain  scenery,  he  would  converse  with  me  most 
interestingly  and  profitably,  and  thus  impart  to  my  mind  a 
portion  of  that  joy  in  God,  of  which  he  was  so  full ;  and 
which,  I  can  but  believe,  arose  from  his  deep,  unfeigned  hu- 
mility and  lowliness  of  mind,  his  sobriety  and  freedom  from 
all  selfishness.  His  parting  address,  when  he  left  us,  made 
an  impression  which  we  could  never  forget.  He  was  con- 
sidered so  mature,  both  in  character  and  attainments,  that 
he  was  sent  to  England  much  before  the  usual  period,  (in 
1828,)  after  only  three  years'  residence  in  the  Seminary, 
and  he  carried  with  him  the  highest  testimonials  from  the 
Divinity  Professor  of  the  University,  and  the  Principal  or 
Inspector  of  the  Mission  College."  * 

After  perusing  the  above  graphic  picture  of  the  subject  of 
this  memoir,  we  may  well  apply  to  him  the  language  of  our 
Lord,  in  allusion  to  His  servant  Paul,  Acts  9  :  15,  "  He  is 

*  This  little  narrative  has  been  drawn  up  from  letters,  furnished  by 
two  of  Mr.  "Weitbrecht's  fellow-students,  who  were  his  contemporaries 
at  Basle,  Mr.  Lincke,  who  afterwards  became  his  fellow-laborer  at 
Burdwan,  and  Mr.  Hausmeister  of  Sirasburg, 


SPIRITUAL  LIFE. 


41 


a  chosen  vessel  unto  me,  to  bear  my  name  before  the 
Gentiles." 

The  extracts  which  now  follow,  from  letters  to  his  family, 
exhibit  him  in  his  inward  spiritual  life : 

To  his  brother  Gottlieb. 

Basle,  April  1,  1827. 
{Translation.) — "One  of  my  class  has  already  gone  to 
Africa,  and  I  feel  afresh,  how  necessary  it  is  to  be  fixed  on 
the  sure  foundation,  and  have  a  living  Saviour  for  our  own. 
I  am  about  to  deliver  my  first  address,  from  Luke  2  :  25, 
and  pray,  that  the  Lord  may  give  me  strength  and  confi- 
dence. This  communication,  which  is  for  yourself  alone, 
dear  brother,  will  tell  you  what  you  have  to  do  for  me,  that  is, 
to  wrestle  and  intercede  with  me  and  for  me,  that  I  may  be 
enlightened,  sanctified,  and  established,  through  the  Spirit 
and  power  of  Jesus.  He  does  not  want  clever  and  learned 
men  merely,  but  faithful,  praying  men,  men  who  study  in 
the  university  of  His  Spirit.  This  persuasion  gives  me  con- 
fidence and  cheerfulness.  The  work  is  His.  He  has  help- 
ed hitherto,  and  will  not  fail  in  future.  Therefore  let  us 
abide  in  Him,  and  give  up  ourselves  wholly  to  Him.  Let 
us  learn  to  hide  deeper  in  Jesus !  I  can  add  my  hearty 
Amen  to  your  wish  for  me,  during  the  season  of  our  Saviour's 
Passion." 

To  his  brother  Charles. 

May,  1827. 

(Translation.) — "Your  good  wishes  for  my  birthday  are 
particularly  needful ;  for  a  missionary  without  a  Saviour, 
without  an  experience  of  the  power  of  God  in  his  heart,  is  a 
mere  nonenity.  He  is,  as  the  Saviour  himself  declares,  fit 
for  nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out.  The  thought  of  three  of  us 
brothers,  becoming  ministers  of  the  Gospel  is  delightful,  yet 


42  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


astonishing  to  me.  What  could  the  Lord  see  in  us,  that  He 
should  choose  us  for  His  service  ?  Let  us  surrender  to  Him, 
our  whole  hearts,  that  He  may  add  His  mighty  power  to  our 
will.  We  will  do  so,  dear  brother,  for  He  is  worthy  of  it, 
and  every  drop  of  our  blood  shall  be  devoted  to  His  glory." 

During  July  and  August  there  is  a  vacation  at  Basle,  and 
the  students  usually  spend  it  in  making  an  excursion.  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  visited  his  own  family,  and  we  find  one  or  two 
notices  in  the  journal  kept  on  the  trip,  which  may  be  given : 

{Translation.) — "  On  the  14th,  at  seven  a.m.,  we  reached 
the  borders  of  Wurtemberg.  My  soul  felt  dry  and  empty. 
I  had  not  strengthened  myself  in  the  Lord  in  the  morning, 
as  I  ought  to  have  done,  and  the  want  of  this  is  ever  felt.  I 
therefore  turned  back  to  a  neighboring  forest,  and  poured 
out  my  heart  before  Him.  He  forgave  my  sin,  and  His 
peace  possessed  my  heart  again.  On  entering  an  inn  for  re- 
freshment, I  fell  into  conversation  with  a  peasant.  As  soon 
as  I  told  him  I  was  from  Basle,  he  made  me  promise  to 
spend  the  night  at  his  house.  Several  brethren  assembled, 
and  I  spoke  on  John  10  :  12-18,  and  we  continued  together 
till  midnight.  It  was  a  blessed  season,  and  the  Lord  glori- 
fied His  name.    At  four  a.m.  I  left." 

At  this  early  period,  there  were  few  if  any  missionary 
publications.  This  accounts  for  the  joy  of  the  pious  peasant, 
and  the  eagerness  of  the  brethren,  leading  them  willingly  to 
listen  till  midnight,  as  the  hearers  of  the  Apostle  did  at 
Troas.— (Acts  20  :  7.) 

(Translation.) — "I  had  a  delightful  visit  to  Schorndorf, 
and  spent  very  blessed  hours  with  my  godfather,  now  seventy- 
eight  years  old.  When  I  bade  him  adieu  he  said,  '  You 
must  shed  no  tears  when  you  hear  that  I  am  gone,  but  thank 
God  that  He  has  taken  a  poor  but  blood-bought  sinner  to 
Himself!'    He  feels  his  strength  failmg,  and  rejoices  in  the 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


43 


prospect  of  going  home.  As  I  left  this  dear  house,  my 
prayer  was,  '  Lord,  give  me  such  faith  and  peace  at  last !' 
His  quickening  and  enlivening  words  resounded  in  my  ears 
as  a  farewell  blessing." 

On  returning  to  Basle  he  wrote  to  his  brother  Charles : 
(Translation.) — "Our  parting  affected  me  very  deeply, 
and  tears  flowed,  as  I  wandered  sorrowfully  through  the 
wood ;  but  I  looked  up  to  Him  who  leads  His  children  on- 
ward, and  sang  the  verses  beginning 

*  Our  times  are  in  Thy  hand.' " 

To  his  Mother. 

Basle,  Sov.  8,  1828. 
(Translation.) — *  *  *  *  «j  have  just  come  from  the  In- 
spector, who  told  me  that  the  Committee  have  unanimously 
agreed  to  send  me,  with  two  other  brethren,  to  England  this 
very  year,  to  join  the  Church  Missionaiy  Society.  Brother 
Fjellstedt  and  myself  will,  probably,  join  brothers  Gobat 
and  Kughler  in  Abyssinia,  after  our  preparation  in  London 
is  completed." 


44  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Farewell  to  "Wurtemberg — ^Proceeds  to  England-r-Eesidence  in  England 
—Voyage  to  India — ^Arrival  at  Calcutta. 

1828—1830. 

Soon  after  the  letter,  which  concludes  the  last  chapter,  was 
penned,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  his 
friends  in  Basle.  He  has  himself  expressed  his  feelings  at 
this  momentous  period,  in  the  farewell  address  which  he 
delivered  before  his  departure,  according  to  the  prescribed 
regulations  of  the  seminary.*  On  the  occasion  of  the  de- 
parture of  each  student,  or,  as  is  generally  the  case,  of  several 
students  together,  a  farewell  meeting  is  held  in  one  of  the 
principal  churches  of  the  city,  and  the  individual,  or  if  several, 
two  or  three  of  those  about  to  leave,  address  the  assembly, 
after  which  he  or  they  are  addressed  by  the  chief  minister  in 
Basle,  or  by  the  Inspector  of  the  Missionary  College.  They 
are  then  solemnly  set  apart  for  their  office  by  imposition  of 
hands.  It  is  a  very  interesting  and  impressive  service,  and 
produces  a  beneficial  effect  in  many  ways  on  all  connected 
with  the  seminary. 

*  Our  space  does  not  permit  the  insertion  of  this  address,  which  made 
a  deep  impression  on  the  students,  and  on  all  who  heard  it.  That  part 
which  detailed  Mr.  "Weitbrecht's  experience,  and  the  history  of  his  soul, 
has  already  been  given  in  the  former  chapter. 


FAREWELL  VISIT. 


45 


Before  finally  quitting  Germany,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  once 
more  visited  his  beloved  family,  and  numerous  relatives. 
It  will  be  perceived,  from  the  brief  extracts  of  correspondence 
which  have  been  given,  that  his  union  with  them  was  of  the 
most  intimate  and  delightful  character ;  but  the  same  faith 
and  love  which  animated  his  own  mind,  and  made  him  so 
ready  to  set  forth  on  his  arduous  enterprise,  possessed  theirs 
also,  and  made  them  willing  to  give  him  up.  Still  it  was  a 
very  trying  and  exciting  time,  though  he  writes :  "  The  part> 
ing  from  my  dear  ones  in  Wurtemberg  was  blessed,  both  to 
them  and  myself.  I  was  but  a  few  days  with  them,  but  the 
Lord  gave  me  strength  and  peace,  and  enabled  me  to  leave 
them  joyfully,  in  the  lively  hope  of  seeing  them  again,  in  the 
Father's  house.  I  was  so  much  overdone,  at  the  end  of  the 
time,  with  constant  speaking,  with  farewell  addresses,  and 
other  moving  scenes,  that,  when  the  time  was  up,  I  felt  no 
desire  to  stop  another  day  in  my  native  land,  and  I  gladly 
stepped  into  the  coach  at  Stuttgart,  on  the  11th  of  December, 
and  proceeded  to  Strasburg,  where  I  remained  a  day  for  rest, 
held  a  meeting,  and  then  went  forward  to  Paris,  m  the  name 
of  the  Lord."  He  was  much  refreshed  by  his  stay  in  Paris, 
where  he  remained  with  M.  Grandpierre,  whom  he  describes 
as  "  a  devoted  man,  full  of  love  to  Christ,  and  assiduously 
fulfilling  his  duties,  in  the  difficult  position  in  which  the  Lord 
had  placed  him,  standing  almost  alone though,  even  then, 
light  had  begun  to  beam  into  many  hearts,  and  six  or  seven 
meetings  were  held  on  the  Sabbaths,  in  different  parts  of 
Paris,  which  were  generally  well  attended ;  and  here  and 
there,  souls  seemed  awakening  from  their  death-sleep.  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  was  introduced  to  six  young  missionary  students, 
whom  he  found  "  earnest  men,  full  of  love  for  the  things  of 
God."  He  adds :  "  Paris  was  quite  a  new  world  to  me,  so 
different  from  Basle  ;  and  I  was  filled  with  astonishment,  at 
the  thousands  of  different  objects  which  met  my  eye." 


46  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

On  the  20th  he  left  for  Calais,  from  whence  he  embarked 
in  an  English  steamer  bound  to  Eamsgate.  "  It  was  a  noisy 
morning,"  and  he  "  thought  longingly  of  the  peaceful  Mission 
House  but  still  "  his  Master  was  near,  and  imparted  some 
of  the  riches  of  His  grace  to  his  soul."  He  had  "  felt  sad  in 
the  anticipation  of  this  journey,  never  having  made  one  at  all 
like  it  before,"  and  he  was  but  imperfectly  acquainted  with 
the  French  language,  and  not  well  with  the  English.  He 
prayed  much  for  "  heavenly  wisdom  and  guidance,  to  carry 
him  through  it,"  and  "the  Lord  richly  answered"  him.  "I 
seated  myself,"  he  writes,  "  in  a  convenient  place  on  deck, 
and  beheld  the  stormy  sea  for  the  first  time.  The  high 
waves  broke  over  the  fore  part  of  the  vessel,  and  rolled 
majestically  onward."  .  ..."  In  the  afternoon  we  landed 
at  Ramsgate ;  and  as  I  set  my  foot,  for  the  first  time,  on 
English  ground,  I  uttered  the  earnest  prayer.  May  this  be  a 
blessed  land  to  me  !"  How  fully  and  graciously  was  this 
petition  answered,  in  many  ways  that  he  could  never  have 
imagined  at  the  time  he  offered  it. 

On  reaching  London,  between  eleven  and  twelve  at  night, 
he  proceeded  at  once  to  the  Church  Missionary  House,  be- 
lieving, according  to  an  idea  not  then  unusual  in  Germany, 
that  a  considerable  part  of  the  business  done  in  that  great 
city,  is  carried  on  by  night.  He  was  somewhat  suprised  to 
find,  that  the  office  had  long  been  closed,  and  that  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  wait  till  the  following  day,  to  see  the  Sec- 
retary. He  speaks  of  Mr.  Coates,  as  receiving  him  "  very 
warmly,"  and  making  immediate  arrangements  for  his  re- 
ception into  the  Islington  Institution.  "  I  was  soon  after  in- 
troduced," he  writes,  "  to  Mr.  Bickersteth  and  others,  who 
struck  me  at  first  as  rather  stiff*,"  (the  impression  a  German 
generally  receives,  till  he  gets  accustomed  to  English  man- 
ners.) "  I  soon,  however,  felt  them  to  be  like  the  kindest 
fathers,  and  became  warmly  attached  to  them,  especially  to 


LEARNING  TIGREE. 


47 


Mr.  Jowett,  who,  having  been  in  the  Mediterranean,  where 
he  saw  much  of  Germans,  was  so  kind  as  to  converse  with  me 
in  Latin,  which  was  a  great  relief  to  me  ;  for  I  am  still  much 
more  familiar  with  it  than  with  English."  He  had  free  ac- 
cess to  Mr.  Jowett's  family  circle,  in  which  he  spent  every 
Sabbath  evening,  and  truly  enjoyed  his  intercourse  with  him 
and  them,  always  looking  forward  to  it  during  the  week. 
After  being  formally  introduced  to  the  Committee,  and  ex- 
pressing, in  answer  to  their  inquiries,  his  willingness  to  go 
to  Abyssinia,  they  directed  him  to  take  charge  of  a  youth 
born  in  that  country,  named  John  Cofiin,  whom  he  was  to 
instruct,  and  from  whom  he  was  to  endeavor  to  acquire  the 
Tigree  language.  He  proved  "  a  very  troublesome  and  un- 
tractable  pupil,"  but  Mr.  Weitbrecht  used  every  effort  to 
fulfill  his  duty  towards  him,  according  to  his  spirit  of  faith- 
fulness in  all  he  undertook. 

The  narrative  which  follows,  of  his  residence  in  England, 
has  been  drawn  up  from  very  full  and  minute  accounts, 
contained  in  letters  written  by  him,  to  Dr.  Blumhardt  at 
Basle. 

In  the  following  few  lines  Mr.  Weitbrecht  describes  his 
plan  of  learning  Tigree  : 

"  I  try  to  gain  words  from  John  (the  Abyssinian  youth) 
and  write  them  in  a  book.  I  then  try  to  form  conjugations 
and  declensions.  Mr.  Bickersteth  said  to  me  the  other  day 
that '  John  must  be  my  grammar,  lexicon,  and  reading-book. 
In  this  new  difficulty  I  need  help  and  strength  from  above, 
to  enable  me  to  pursue  this  work  with  faith  and  joy.  My 
principal  employment  hitherto,  has  been  perfecting  myself 
in  English,  in  which  I  am  by  no  means  a  hero." 

He  had  scarcely,  to  use  his  own  expression,  "  become 
quite  at  home  among  his  brother  students  at  Islington," 
when  he  was  directed  to  remove,  and  proceed  to  Devon- 
shire with  his  pupil,  as  the  air  of  London  did  not  agree  with 


48  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

the  youth.  He  felt  this  a  severe  trial,  but  acquiesced  in  it, 
in  his  accustomed  spirit  of  meek  submission.  "  I  will  will- 
ingly obey,"  he  writes,  and  learn  to  control  my  wishes, 
though  the  love  and  kindness  of  my  brethren,  and  other  friends, 
make  it  hard  for  me  to  have  to  leave  them,  and  go  again 
amongst  entire  strangers."  He  only  expected  to  be  absent 
a  few  weeks,  but  was  away  for  seven  months,  and  missed 
attendance  at  the  annual  meetings  in  May,  to  which  he  had 
"  looked  forward  with  earnest  longing."  He  found  kind 
and  pious  friends  in  his  new  locality  ;  amongst  them,  an  old 
missionary  from  Sierra  Leone,  named  Raban,  who  had 
charge  of  four  African  youths.  In  February,  he  began  to 
learn  Ethiopic,  that  he  might  teach  his  young  pupil  to  read 
and  write  in  it,  as  well  as  in  English.  "  When  I  go  out  to 
walk  with  him,"  he  remarks,  "  I  ask  him  to  tell  me  the 
names  of  all  the  different  objects  that  come  before  us,  and 
then  I  try  to  form  phrases  to  myself.  It  requires,  however, 
a  great  deal  of  patience,  wisdom,  and  love,  to  manage  this 
boy,  as  he  is  very  self  willed  and  disobedient,  and  will  not 
yield  in  any  way  to  others.  Mr.  Jowett  tells  me,  this  trial 
is  a  stepping-stone  to  my  future  life,  as  I  am  going  to  a 
people  who  know  no  regularity,  but  follow  their  own  inclin 
ation  entirely.  How  different  is  this  from  the  Missionary 
House  at  Basle,  where  one  is  surrounded,  as  it  were,  likt 
the  Israelites,  by  Jehovah's  pillar  of  cloud !  There,  it  is 
easier  to  walk  as  a  child  of  God,  than  when  one  has  to  fight 
outwardly  with  a  wild,  contradictory  spirit,  and  too  often  with 
an  unbelieving  and  wicked  heart  within  :  but  I  must  not  com- 
plain, or  be  discontented  with  my  situation ;  that  would  be 
ungrateful  to  the  Lord,  who  has  led  me,  so  lovingly,  up  to 
this  hour,  and  who  continually  helps  me  to  feel  His  presence, 
and  overflowing  consolation.  It  shows,  however,  that  when 
one  first  comes  into  the  world,  we  must  be  shaken^  and  it  is 
then  seen  how  much  one  has  really  taken  up  of  the  life  of 


PROGRESS  IN  AMHARIC. 


49 


Jesus  Christ,  and  how  much  of  the  old  man  still  cleaves  to 
us.  This  shaking  will,  I  hope,  cause  me  to  take  root  more 
firmly.  I  find,  that  when  John  is  so  very  naughty,  it  is 
most  difficult  to  feel  and  act  lovingly  towards  him,  or  to 
manage  him  in  a  mild  and  humble  spirit ;  it  is  an  art  which 
I  have  to  learn  by  degrees,  at  the  throne  of  grace.  I  thmk 
God  for  this  useful  though  hard  discipline  ;  for  I  would  not 
be  one  of  His  half-followers,  and  it  is  these  little  daily  trials 
that  teach  us  most  effectually.  I  have  got  my  pupil  to 
study  six  hours  a  day,  instead  of  two,  and  am  assisted  with 
him,  by  the  kindness  of  a  Christian  lady,  who  helps  me  in 
teaching  him  very  essentially.  Thus  my  burthen  is  light- 
ened." 

During  his  residence  at  Brixham,  in  Devonshire,  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  became  intimate  with  the  clergyman  there,  Mr. 
Lyte,  a  very  talented,  interesting,  and  devoted  man,  whose 
society  and  preaching  were  a  great  enjoyment  to  him,  so 
that  he  "  always  looked  forward  to  the  Sabbath  with  de- 
light." Mr.  L.  was  also  warmly  interested  in  the  prosperi- 
ty of  the  work  that  lay  nearest  his  heart,  and  encouraged 
and  helped  him,  in  a  variety  of  ways.  He  describes  himself 
as  "  living  in  lodgings,  in  a  small  cottage,  and  having  to 
keep  house  for  himself  and  his  charge,"  which  was  "  new 
work"  to  him,  and  as  he  was  "  quite  unaccustomed  to  the 
English  style  of  living,  rather  difficult."  He,  however,  con- 
trived to  "  make  progress  in  his  study  of  the  Amharic  and 
Tigree  languages,  and  felt  himself  gaining  ground,  though 
slowly."  He  had  little  or  no  help  from  his  willful  pupil, 
who  would,  but  for  his  exertions,  have  forgotten  his  own 
language,  which  indeed  he  had  never  learned  to  read  or 
write.  "  I  am  now  beginning,"  he  writes  in  April,  "  to 
translate  the  Gospels  into  Ethiopia.  In  Tigree  I  do  but  lit- 
tle. I  find  the  Hebrew,  in  many  respects,  a  stepping-stone 
to  the  Ethiopic,  so  I  apply  the  most  to  it,  and  I  hope, 
3 


50  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


by  God's  help,  that  my  pupil  may  be  able  to  read  and  write 
Amharic  before  June.*  It  is  very  desirable  he  should  learn 
to  do  this,  or  he  will  forget  his  own  language.  But  my  chief 
anxiety,  and  most  earnest  prayer  for  him  is,  that  he  may,  by 
God's  grace,  '  be  born  again,'  and  become  one  of  the  '  first- 
fruits  of  Abyssinia  unto  Christ.'  Oh  !  supplicate  the  Lord, 
dear  friends,  for  this  mercy,  and  also,  that  I  may  be  found 
*  faithful  over  a  few  things  !'  " 

After  seven  months,  spent  in  his  trying  and  arduous  under- 
taking, which  yielded  no  fruit,  he  was  permitted  to  return  to 
London,  through  the  kind  interference  of  his  brother,  Fjell- 
stedt,  who  represented  to  the  Principal  at  Islington,  the  use- 
lessness  of  the  experiment,  and  the  great  sacrifice  it  was  of 
Mr.  Weitbrecht's  time.  This  was  stated  to  the  committee, 
who  sent  Mr.  F.  to  Brixham,  to  ascertain  if  it  were  really  so 
by  personal  observation,  as  all  parties  had  been  sanguine,  in 
the  beginning,  with  regard  to  a  plan  which  seemed  so  pro- 
mising. "  The  arrival  of  dear  Fjellstedt  in  Brixham  was," 
writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  a  great  relief  and  happiness  to  me, 
and  the  more  so,  as  it  occurred  in  the  absence  of  brother 
Raban,  who  had  gone  on  a  missionary  journey,  and  left  his 
four  African  pupils  in  my  charge.  He  remained  with  me 
for  a  month,  and  took  John  in  hand  himself,  and  was  con- 
firmed in  the  opinion  he  had  formed,  from  my  letters  to  him 
and  the  committee.  At  the  end  of  August,  therefore,  we 
returned  to  Islington,  and  now  I  can  prepare  in  earnest  for 
my  ordination,  and  take  lessons  in  Arabic  of  Professor  Lee, 
as  well  as  hear  lectures  on  medicine  and  surgery,  and  visit  the 
hospitals  in  London,  to  see  the  pratiacal  part  of  this  useful 
science.  It  is  delightful  to  be  again  with  beloved  brethren 
and  friends,  and  to  be  really  able  to  prepare  for  going  out 
among  the  heathen.  I  think  the  committee  forgot  me,  and 
the  preciousness  of  my  time,  in  their  great  desire  to  do  good 

*  Bthiopic  and  Amharic  are  only  two  names  for  the  same  language. 


KINDNESS  OF  THE  BISHOP  OF  LONDON. 


51 


to  the  Abyssinian  boy ;  but  they  see  it  now,  and  I  am  going 
on  quietly  and  peacefully  with  my  work,  and  can  testify 
that  my  residence  in  England  is,  in  every  respect,  a  blessing 
to  my  soul,  and  I  am  thankful  to  have  been  led  here  for  a 
season.  How  happy  are  the  children  of  God,  who  are  guid- 
ed by  His  hand,  and  blessed  in  their  going  out  and  coming 
in !  Even  the  seemingly  slight  circumstances  in  their  path, 
are  among  the  *all  things,'  which  work  together  for  their 
good.  My  daily  and  earnest  wish  is,  to  be  united  more 
closely  to  Jesus,  to  walk  in  His  light,  and  to  spend  all  my 
strength  in  His  service.  He  has  created  this  desire  within 
me,  and  will  impart  the  strength  I  require  to  enable  me  to 
fulfill  His  commands.  His  hidden  manna  will  feed  us  on  our 
desert  journey,  and  the  streams  of  the  smitten  rock  will  ever 
follow  and  refresh  us,  in  weariness,  temptation,  and  heavi- 
ness." 

On  Trinity  Sunday,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  ordained  Dea- 
con, by  the  Bishop  of  London,  Dr.  Blomfield.  The  other 
young  men,  who  were  chiefly  from  the  universities,  were 
nineteen  in  number ;  and  seventeen  were  ordained  priests, 
among  whom  was  his  beloved  brother  Jetter.  The  previous 
examination  lasted  four  days,  and  after  it  was  over,  the 
whole  party  were  invited  to  dine  with  the  Bishop  at  Eulham. 
When  his  lordship  stated  the  result  of  the  examination,  he 
particularly  mentioned  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  as  the  second  of 
five  of  the  deacons  who  had  done  best,  and  the  examining 
chaplain  assured  him,  privately,  that  he  would  not  have  long 
to  wait  for  his  priest's  orders,  as  the  Bishop  had  been  so  high- 
ly satisfied  with  him.  He  had  been  allowed  to  give  his  writ- 
ten answers  in  Latin,  when  feeling  in  any  way  at  a  loss,  with 
regard  to  expressions  in  English,  and  this  had  helped  him, 
and  inspired  him  with  confidence.  He  writes :  "  The  result 
of  my  examination  has  put  a  song  of  praise  into  my  mouth 
to  Him  who  has  helped  me.    Besides  myself,  there  were 


52  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


two  English  brethren  from  the  Institution,  Sandys  and  Black- 
man,  who  are  going  to  India.  I  found  many  pious  young  men 
among  the  candidates  from  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  who, 
with  true  brotherly  love,  held  out  to  me  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship.  I  am  so  delighted  in  the  hope  which  I  now  have, 
of  soon  proceeding  to  my  field  of  labor ;  perhaps  in  six 
months  more,  I  may  be  permitted  to  depart,  and  it  is  quite 
possible  I  may  go  across  the  Continent,  and  once  more  see 
dear  Basle." 

In  February  1830,  he  wrote  to  one  of  his  brothers  as  fol- 
lows : 

*  *  *  "I  rejoice  to  tell  you,  I  have  no  prospect  of  spend- 
ing another  winter  here,  but  it  has  become  uncertain  wheth- 
er I  shall  go  to  Abyssinia,  after  all  my  labor  and  prepara- 
tion for  it.  North- Africa  is  now  spoken  of.  '  The  will  of 
the  Lord  be  done.'  I  shall  be  satisfied,  whether  He  place 
me  in  the  north  or  east,  so  long  as  he  will  use  me  as  an  in- 
strument for  promoting  His  glory."* 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  suffered  a  good  deal  in  health  during  this 
winter,  but  not  so  as  to  interrupt  his  labors ;  and  he  regularly 
read  prayers,  for  many  months,  for  Mr.  Bickersteth,  at 
Wheler  Chapel,  In  spring  he  was  ordained  Priest,  and  it 
was  proposed  to  him  to  go  to  the  Mediterranean,  a  sphere 
he  had  long  secretly  desired.  He  was  therefore  delighted 
at  the  idea  of  being  called  there ;  but,  as  the  season  advan- 
ced, Mr.  Jetter's  health  did  not  strengthen  as  had  been  an- 
ticipated, and  it  was,  at  length,  concluded  to  change  his  des- 
tination, sending  him  to  Greece,  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  Cal- 

*  The  intention  of  sending  him  to  Abyssinia  was  abandoned,  from 
very  unfavorable  accounts  which  reached  the  Society  in  reference  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  Mission  in  that  country ;  and  Mr,  Fjellstedt,  who  was 
to  have  been  his  companion,  embarked  for  South-India  in  the  course  of 
the  summer. 


DESIGNATION  TO  CALCUTTA. 


53 


cutta  in  his  stead.  He  had  just  before,  begged  the  Commit- 
tee to  send  him  wherever  they  thought  best,  only  to  let  him 
get  to  work,  and  when  asked  by  them,  if  he  would  agree 
to  give  up  his  wishes  and  proceed  to  India,  where  there 
was  labor  in  abundance,  he  joyfully  consented.  In  a  letter, 
written  at  this  period,  he  thus  expresses  himself :  "  Mr. 
Coates  kindly  added,  in  the  true  spirit  of  our  dear  Lord, 
'  If  it  will  be  too  painful  to  you  to  experience  this  second 
disappointment,  the  Committee  would  consider  it  as  a  sign 
from  the  Lord,  and  not  press  it ;'  but,  after  earnest  prayer, 
and  close  waiting  upon  Him,  for  some  days,  I  could  not  but 
regard  the  proposal  for  Calcutta,  as  coming  from  Him  ; 
and  my  desire  being,  above  all  other  things,  that  the  will  of 
the  Lord  might  be  done,  and  feeling  that  we  are  of  ourselves, 
totally  unable  to  judge  of  that  which  is  future,  and  that 
our  only  safe  way  is  to  cast  ourselves  upon  Him,  which  I 
had  done,  I  could  only  regard  the  lack  of  laborers  in  India, 
and  the  wish  of  the  Committee,  as  a  call  to  me  to  go  there, 
and  I  signified  my  willingness  to  go  at  once.  It  was  not 
concealed  from  me,  that  matters  in  Calcutta  are  not  in  a 
pleasant  state,  and  that  Germans  are  not  in  high  repute 
there ;  but  I  had  a  long  talk  with  brother  Jetter  on  these 
points,  and  he  assures  me,  that  a  faithful  laborer  of  the  right 
spirit  need  not  fear.  He  was  five  years  in  Bengal,  and 
would  be  but  too  happy  to  return,  if  health  permitted.  I 
can  not  help  feeling  a  little  anxious  ;  but  I  will  not  look  to 
man  but  to  Christ,  who  had  a  difficult  path  to  walk  Himself, 
and  if  I  can,  by  the  help  of  his  Spirit,  treat  with  love  and 
confidence,  those  who  look  on  Germans  with  suspicion,  all 
will  go  well.    I  am  to  sail  by  the  first  opportunity." 

In  the  following  letter  to  his  brother,  he  speaks  of  his 
second  ordination : 

{^Translation.) — "You  say  rightly,  dear  G,,  that  a  mis- 
sionary needs  very  much  humility.    I  am  thankful  that  you 


54  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

take  SO  correct  a  view,  and  this  has  enabled  you  to  express 
the  right  wishes  for  me,  on  my  birth-day.  How  many  mis- 
sionaries have  become  useless  to  the  cause,  to  which  they 
appeared  to  devote  themselves,  from  a  failure  in  this  grace, 
as  it  is  written,  '  God  resisteth  the  proud,  but  giveth  grace 
unto  the  humble !'  I  have  been  again  with  the  bishop;  and, 
through  the  Lord's  gracious  help,  I  got  on  as  well  as  before, 
and  received  an  equally  kind  and  favorable  testimony  from 
him,  which  was  very  gratifying  to  our  Committee.  I  was 
ordained  Priest  with  forty-seven  other  young  clergymen  in 
St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  during  public  service.  It  was  a  very 
solemn  occasion,  and  the  day  proved  one  of  spiritual  bless- 
ing to  my  soul." 

To  his  mother  he  writes :  "  Dear  brother  Fjellstedt  is 
about  to  leave  me,  and  proceed  to  South-India.  I  shall  feel 
his  absence  very  much ;  but,  when  left  alone,  as  it  regards 
man,  the  Lord  comes  nearer.  He  is  very  kind,  and  does 
more  for  me  than  I  can  express  to  you.  Many  dear  breth- 
ren have  to  pass  through  much  inward  trial  and  darkness ; 
but  He  gives  me  the  sweetest  sense  of  His  peace,  and  fills 
my  heart  with  cheerfulness.  It  is  the  greatest  happiness  on 
earth,  to  be  so  closely  united  to  our  dear  Saviour.  When 
He  thus  reveals  Himself  in  us,  a  sense  of  His  love  entirely 
subdues  us." 

In  August,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  called  to  bid  adieu  to  his 
dear  friend  and  brother,  Mr.  Jetter.  They  had  first  known 
each  other  in  Basle,  where  he  was  residing  for  the  recovery 
of  his  health,  after  his  return  from  India  in  1825,  the  year 
in  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  offered  himself  as  a  candidate  for 
the  missionary  office.  "  I  was  immediately  drawn  towards 
him,"  writes  Mr.  Jetter,  "  for  there  was  something  so  open, 
sincere,  and  genuine  in  his  very  countenance,  that  I  said  at 
once,  *  Behold  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no 
guile.'  "    They  had  been  very  intimate  in  the  Islington  Col- 


LEAVE-TAKING. 


55 


lege,  and  had  prepared  their  sermons  together.  They  had 
often  met  in  Mr.  Fjellstedt's  room,  for  brotherly  intercourse 
during  that  time ;  and  "  dear  Weitbrecht's  conversation," 
adds  Mr.  Jetter,  "  was  always  cheerful,  but  never  trifling, 
or  unbecoming  his  high  and  holy  ojElice.  There  was  a  con- 
stant reference  to  the  great  subject,  and  an  unwearied  en- 
deavor to  lead  souls  to  Jesus.  Godly  sincerity  was  a  shin- 
ing virtue  in  him,  from  my  first  acquaintance  with  him. 
When  our  destinations  were  changed,  I  gave  him  all  the  ad- 
vice I  could  about  India,  and  directed  him  in  the  study  of 
the  Bengali  language,  in  which  we  made  some  little  progress 
together.  It  was  the  fourth  language  to  which  he  had  ap- 
plied, in  the  prospect  of  different  fields  of  labor.  When  we 
embarked  at  Gravesend,  he  accompanied  us  there,  and  saw 
us  safely  on  board,  helping  and  comforting  us,  in  his  usual 
kind  way.  It  was  my  privilege  to  see  him  again,  on  his 
visit  to  Europe  for  the  restoration  of  his  health,  and  to  carry 
on  a  profitable  correspondence  with  him  to  the  day  of  his 
death."  Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Jetter,  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
was  introduced  to  the  Rev.  R.  Walker,  to  whom  he  paid  a 
visit  of  a  few  weeks,  and  some  valuable  letters  to  him  will 
find  a  place  in  this  Memoir. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  left  London  on  the  27th  of  August,  1830, 
and  writes  :  "  At  6  a.m.  I  had  the  last  parting  meeting  with 
the  missionary  brethren  at  Islington.  I  addressed  them 
with  deep  feeling,  and  was  reminded  of  the  great  blessing 
of  brotherly  fellowship.  At  2  p.m.  I  took  leave  of  Mr. 
Coates,  brother  Raban  offered  a  short  prayer,  commending 
me  to  the  grace  of  God,  and  beseeching  that  I  might  become 
an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  of  conveying  bless- 
ings to  many  immortal  souls." 

Some  account  of  his  voyage  may  be  given.  His  own 
records  of  it  in  his  journal,  and  in  letters  to  friends,  are 
very  interesting,  and  we  trace  in  them  the  workings  of  his 


56  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

mind  under  circumstances  entirely  new  to  him,  observe  his 
advancing  preparation  for  his  great  work,  and  see  how  sin- 
gularly he  continues  to  exemplify  the  same  humble,  earnest 
characteristics  he  had  all  along  exhibited. 

On  the  30th,  they  set  sail  with  fine  weather,  and  bade 
farewell  to  the  mouth  of  the  Thames;  but  contrary  winds 
delayed  their  progress,  and  it  was  not  till  the  4th  of  Sep- 
tember, that  they  anchored  at  Portsmouth,  where  most  of 
the  passengers  came  on  board.  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  received 
a  beautiful  letter,  from  the  pious  mother  of  the  captain  of 
the  vessel,  commending  her  son  to  his  notice  and  his  prayers. 
She  was  personally  unacquainted  with  him,  but  hearing  that 
he  was  a  missionary,  she  felt  emboldened  to  make  this  re- 
quest, which  was  faithfully  attended  to,  as  far  as  circumstances 
opened  the  way ;  but  the  captain  was  then  quite  a  man  of 
the  world,  and  though  he  was  kind,  polite,  and  obliging  to 
all,  he  naturally  favored  his  own  party,  who  were,  as  is  usual 
in  such  cases,  the  majority.  He  only  allowed  one  service  on 
Sundays,  and  did  not  give  Mr.  Weitbrecht  full  liberty  to  do 
all  he  would  have  liked  for  the  passengers ;  but  he  was  permit- 
ted to  go  among  the  sailors,  and  distribute  tracts  and  Scrip- 
tures, and  he  fixed  an  hour  on  Sunday  morning,  after  the  serv- 
ice, when  every  individual  might  come  and  receive  these  sup- 
plies, and  not  one  was  left  without  the  word  of  life.  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht likewise  embraced  that  welcome  opportunity,  to  speak 
to  each  man  singly,  about  "  the  one  thing  needful,"  and  per- 
ceived some  very  encouraging  signs  in  several  of  them. 
One  or  two  of  the  passengers  were  also,  he  hoped,  truly  im- 
pressed with  divine  things.* 

*  Captain  Young  was,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  eventually 
brought  home  to  Christ.  He  died  in  India,  some  years  after,  and  was 
attended,  in  his  last  illness,  by  a  devoted  missionary,  who  conveyed  to 
his  excellent  mother,  the  glad  tidings  of  his  departure  in  the  faith  and 
hope  of  the  Gospel.    This  circumstance  was  communicated  to  Mr.  Weit- 


POPULARITY  ON  BOARD  SHIP. 


57 


Mr.  Weitbrecht  spent  the  Sunday  in  the  family  of  a 
brother  clergyman  at  Portsea ;  and,  on  Tuesday  the  7th  they 
finally  sailed.  He  records  an  interesting  conversation  which 
he  held,  on  the  10th,  with  an  officer  on  deck,  upon  true  con- 
version, and  the  divine  authority  of  the  Scriptures.  He  re- 
marks :  "  I  saw  from  the  effects  of  it  that  the  natural  man 
may  be  convinced  by  arguments ;  but,  unless  divine  grace 
bring  them  home  to  the  heart,  no  sinner  will  be  converted 
by  them." 

He  had  often  a  difficult  path  to  walk  with  regard  to  the 
passengers,  and  felt  that  it  required  much  watchfulness  and 
prayer  to  behave  aright.  To  show  kindness  and  courtesy 
was  natural  to  him,  and  he  felt  it  also  a  Christian  duty ;  but 
he  tried  to  follow  his  Divine  Master's  example,  and  not  to 
commit  himself  to  them,  knowing  as  he  did,  that  there  was 
enmity  in  their  hearts  against  the  truth. 

One  of  the  young  men  on  board,  showed  him  much  kind- 
ness, and  they  formed  a  friendship  together  which  lasted 
through  life.  To  him  he  used  to  take  his  sermon,  after  he 
had  prepared  it ;  but  "  my  office,"  remarks  his  friend,  "  was 
a  sinecure,  for  he  then  wrote  as  correctly  and  elegantly  as  in 
later  years,  and  preached  in  English,  with  as  much  ease,  as 
if  he  had  been  born  in  England."  He  adds :  "  With  those  on 
board  he  was  generally  very  popular,  but  this  arose  more 
from  his  pleasant  manners,  cheerfulness  of  disposition,  and 
general  information,  than  because  they  appreciated  his  intrin- 
sic worth  and  value  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel." 

The  passage  through  the  Bay  of  Biscay  was  stormy,  and, 
on  Sept.  12th,  he  writes :  "  This  has  been  a  dreadful  night, 
the  wind  blew  terribly,  the  sea  rose  mountains  high.  I  could 
not  attempt  divine  service  on  deck  to-day.  A  sea-life,  with- 
out a  Saviour,  must  be  a  wretched  state,  more  so  than  on 

brecht,  and  was  a  great  encouragement  to  him  to  go  on  sowing  beside 
all  waters. 

3* 


58  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBREOHT. 

land.  I  lay  in  my  cot,  thinking  how  comfortable  it  is,  that 
the  Lord  hears  the  inmost  prayer  of  a  heart  hungering  after 
grace,  when  it  can  not  come  to  Him,  in  the  retirement  of  the 
closet,  to  pour  out  its  desires  in  words."  Again,  on  the 
15th,  he  adds:  "  Very  dreadful  weather,  but  I  enjoyed  much 
comfort.  The  remembrance  of  my  dear  friends  in  Germany, 
Switzerland,  and  England,  many  of  whom  are  no  doubt 
pleading  with  the  Lord  on  my  behalf,  was  very  sweet  and 
delightful  to  my  heart,  in  these  hours  of  trial,  when  I  want 
a  brother's  comfort  very  much." 

We  go  on  to  quote  from  the  journal : 

"  19tk.  Preached  in  the  cuddy,  it  being  too  stormy  to 
have  the  service  on  deck.  The  Lord  gave  me  liberty  and 
boldness,  and  I  was  heard  with  profound  attention,  the  Word 
seeming  to  impress  many. 

"  20th.  The  first  fine  evening  since  the  beginning  of  our 
voyage ;  the  weather  mild  ;  the  moon,  in  her  first  quarter, 
descending  towards  the  west ;  the  sky  clear,  and  the  firma- 
ment crowded  with  stars ;  the  air  balmy ;  the  wide  ocean 
playing  with  its  waves,  and  reflecting  the  moonbeams  beauti- 
fully ;  the  ship  in  full  sail,  plying  its  course  along,  and  thus 
causing  an  action  which  produced  fine  phosphoric  sparks  j 
the  whole  scene  elevating  the  mind,  to  admiration  of  the 
power  and  majesty  of  the  great  Creator.  I  sat  on  deck 
meditating,  wondering,  and  adoring.  I  had  enjoyed  a  bless- 
ed season,  in  my  cabm,  of  communion  with  my  Saviour,  and 
my  heart  was  drawn  afresh  to  that  land,  where,  after  a  few 
•  days  more  of  earthly  toil  and  sorrow,  I  shall  see  Him  whom 
my  soul  loves,  though  so  feebly,  here  below. 

"  24:th.  Lord  have  mercy  upon  me  !  Wherever  I  turn, 
unbelief  and  darkness  present  themselves.  I  pity  these  poor 
creatures.  Strengthen  my  faith  lest  I  grow  languid.  Wort 
in  me,  and  make  me  a  faithful  fellow- worker." 

The  following  graphic  sketch  of  his  stay  at  Madeira  will 
interest  the  reader : 


BISHOP  HEBER. 


59 


"  ^Ith.  Made  Madeira,  after  passing  the  island  of  Porto 
Santo.  It  had  a  lovely  appearance,  reminding  me  of  a  Swiss 
scene  in  summer.  We  anchored,  to  take  in  a  cargo  of  wine. 
I  landed,  and  found  Christian  friends,  with  whom  I  enjoyed 
most  pleasant  intercourse.  I  saw  the  luxuriance  of  nature 
in  a  warm  climate ;  the  leaves  of  the  aloe  plant  measured 
from  eight  to  ten  feet  in  length  ;  and  the  myrtle,  the  orange, 
and  the  lime-tree,  were  in  blossom ;  the  pomegranate  and 
fig-tree  were  growing  wild ;  and  grapes,  with  other  ripe  fruit, 
were  in  profusion .  I  made  several  excursions  with  my  friends 
to  the  surrounding  mountains,  and  beheld  the  most  magni- 
ficent prospects  from  them.  The  air  was  balmy  and  fra- 
grant, pure  and  warm ;  the  moon  shone  brightly,  and  the 
rich  smell  from  the  foliage  and  flowers  led  me  to  meditate 
on  the  beauties  of  paradise,  before  sin  corrupted  man,  and 
brought  a  curse  upon  the  earth.  But,  alas !  the  wretched 
inhabitants  are  sunk  in  darkness  and  superstition,  and  one 
felt  inclined  to  weep  over  their  miserable  condition.  I 
preached,  on  the  second  evening  of  my  stay,  to  many  Christ- 
ian friends  who  met  together,  and  left  this  beautiful  island 
with  regret,  where  some  dear  faithful  ones  dwell  like  lilies 
among  thorns.    (Canticles  2:2.) 

"  We  proceeded  on  our  voyage,  and  I  read  Heber's  Last 
Days,  with  much  interest.  How  zealous  and  diligent  he 
was  on  board  a  merchant-ship,  from  Calcutta  to  Madras !  I 
do  comparatively  so  little.  It  is  true,  every  opportunity 
was  afforded  him ;  all  were  ready  at  his  command,  and  com- 
plied with  his  wishes ;  and  he  was  accomplished  and  elegant : 
while  I  am  a  foreigner,  speaking  in  a  language  which  is  still 
difficult  to  me,  and  not  allowed  all  the  liberty  I  could  wish ; 
yet  I  feel  I  am  not  faithful  enough,  or  so  holy  in  my  conduct 
and  conversation,  as  the  greatness  of  my  work  requires ; 
and  this  thought  humbles  me  to  the  dust.  Heber,  as  a 
great  bishop,  was  honored  on  every  side ;  and  I  must  expect, 


60  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  do  receive  the  contrary  very  often  ;  yet  this  should  not 
quench  my  zeal,  or  bear  heavily  on  my  spirit." 

The  great  heat  brought  upon  Mr.  Weibrecht  an  attack  of 
bilious  fever,  which  weakened  him  very  much,  and  he  suffer- 
ed deeply  at  the  same  time  from  inward  trial  and  temptation, 
as  well  as  barrenness  of  spirit ;  but  the  Redeemer  visited  him 
again  in  due  time,  and  imparted  strength  and  consolation 
from  above.  He  speaks  of  "preaching  on  deck  from 
Matt.  13  :  1-6,  under  much  bodily  weakness,  and  much 
groaning  and  prayer  for  divine  aid,"  which  was  not  withheld ; 
and,  on  the  following  day,  he  was  able  to  sit  down  to  his 
usual  studies  again,  and  felt  himself  "  graciously  upheld  by 
faith,  and  an  increasing  desire  to  come  nearer  to  his  God." 
"  My  heart  panteth  after  Him,"  writes  he  ;  when  shall  I 
come  and  appear  before  God  V 

On  New  Year's  Day  he  was  still  on  board.  The  nearer 
he  approached  the  shores  of  India,  the  more  earnest  did  he 
become  in  his  prayers,  to  be  made  a  blessing  there ;  and  he 
writes :  "  Oh !  for  the  true  apostolic  spirit  of  the  first  ages ! 
May  I  have  a  portion,  at  least,  of  that  real  unction  from  the 
Holy  One,  which  the  first  preachers  of  the  Gospel  received  ! 
I  feel  the  need  of  it,  and  know  its  value.  Alas  !  that  we  do 
not  seek  it  more !"  He  goes  on  to  add,  "  Glory  to  God, 
through  His  grace,  I  have  entered  on  another  year.  Let  me 
erect  my  Ebenezer,  as  I  have  so  much  cause  to  do,  in  enter- 
ing on  my  new  sphere  of  life,  and  repeat,  with  joyful  grati- 
tude, Hitherto  the  Lord  has  helped  me ! 

"  How  much  has  Thy  eternal  love  done  for  me,  even  from 
my  early  age  !  How  many  proofs  of  Thy  mercy  can  I  record ! 
How  long  didst  Thou  follow  Thy  long-lost  sheep,  until,  at  last, 
it  was  brought  back !  How  wonderful  Thy  ways  and  deal- 
ing with  me !  Now  joys,  now  sorrows,  to  draw  my  heart  to 
Thee.  I  would  to-day  dedicate  myself  afresh  to  Thy  service, 
my  Saviour,  to  be  thine  altogether ;  and  to  desire  no  other 


CONCLUSION  OF  THE  VOYAGE. 


61 


joy  but  That  which  is  found  in  Thee.  Thou  art  worthy,  O 
Lamb  of  God !    Let  all  my  heart  adore  and  praise  thee." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  much  encouraged,  at  this  time,  by  the 
hope  of  having  been  made  a  spiritual  blessing  to  one  or  two 
on  board,  and  we  find  his  journal  full  of  the  records  of  his 
prayers  and  praises  on  this  point.  He  was  also  overwhelm- 
ed by  devout  contemplations  of  the  works  of  God  in  His  na- 
tural creation,  which  always  conveyed  to  him  encouraging 
emblems  of  His  power  in  re-creating.  "  The  majestic  view 
above  me,"  he  writes,  as  he  beheld  the  splendor  of  the  stars 
in  the  eastern  sky,  "  teaches  me  the  goodness,  as  well  as  the 
greatness  of  my  Lord.  It  was  so  with  the  Psalmist." 
He  preached  a  valedictory  sermon  from  the  words,  "  Work 
out  your  own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling,  for  it  is  God 
that  worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  plea- 
sure," and  expressed  to  his  fellow-travellers  his  earnest  hope, 
that  they  might  so  apply  "  his  exhortations"  as  to  give  him 
the  prospect  of  a  joyful  reunion  with  them  on  the  morning 
of  the  resurrection."    To  one  of  his  brothers  he  writes  : 

(^Translation) — "Imagine  me  sitting  in  my  cabin,  in  the 
quiet  solemn  evening  hour,  the  air  quite  still,  the  sky  cloud- 
less, the  temperature  warm,  and  the  sea,  on  which  the  ship  is 
anchored,  as  smooth  as  a  mirror.  In  a  few  hours,  I  expect 
to  behold  the  shores  of  India,  and  to  enter  the  Ganges.  We 
can  already  see  the  pilot-vessels  at  a  distance,  but  we 
have  no  wind  to  make  progress.  The  ship's  company  are 
fishing,  for  the  water  is  only  thirty  fathoms  deep ;  and  we 
are  surrounded  by  sand-banks,  formed  by  the  great  deposits, 
brought  down  by  the  mighty  river.  This  spot  is  therefore 
called  the  sand-heads  ;  and  it  is  a  dangerous  navigation  here- 
abouts. The  passengers  are  engaged  with  cards,  and  my 
heart  is  wandering  towards  you,  and  longing  for  an  hour's 
intercourse  with  you.  As  I  write,  the  pilot  has  come  on 
board,  and  I  have  seen  Hindus  for  the  first  time.    His  boat 


62  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

was  filled  with  them,  and  I  longed  to  go  to  them  at  once, 
and  proclaim  the  gospel  of  Jesus'  love,  but  my  tongue  is  still 
tied,  though  I  have  studied  hard  on  the  voyage.  I  have 
now  beheld  the  shores  of  India,  and  my  soul  adores  the 
Lord.  We  have  had  a  good  though  tedious  passage.  I  long 
to  place  my  feet,  once  more,  on  terra  Jirma^  and,  still  more, 
to  find  brethren,  which  I  hope  to  do  in  Calcutta.  Though  I 
think  much  of  you  all,  and  often  long  after  our  dear  ones,  yet 
you  must  not  suppose  I  am  home-sick.  No,  not  for  the 
world  would  I  wish  to  return;  on  the  contrary,  I  rejoice, 
more  than  I  can  express,  in  being  now  really  engaged  in  the 
service  of  my  Saviour ;  and  it  is  my  one  desire,  to  spend  my 
whole  life  in  it,  and  to  seek  nothing  but  the  increase  of  His 
glory,  and  the  making  known  of  His  salvation.  We  are  has- 
tening up  the  river ;  the  banks  are  beautiful.  At  4  p.m  we 
passed  Fort  William,  and  Calcutta  presented  itself  to  our 
view.  At  6  we  cast  anchor ;  thus  the  haven  is  reached  in 
safety;  God's  name  be  praised!  To  my  great  delight  I 
found  my  dear  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sandys  here,  and  quite 
well.  I  also  saw  dear  brother  Reichardt,  Mr.  Lacroix,  a 
Swiss  missionary,  and  Mrs.  Wilson,  for  whom  I  at  once  felt 
a  warm  regard,  from  her  true  missionary  spirit.  The  Lord 
has  a  seed  in  Calcutta ;  may  it  break  forth  to  the  east  and 
the  west,  the  north  and  the  south !  In  the  evening,  the  na- 
tive Christians  collected  for  a  prayer-meeting,  and  I  saw 
some  twenty  swarthy  faces  around  me,  and  heard  their  voices 
joining  in  a  hymn  of  praise  to  our  common  Lord  and  Re- 
deemer. " 

How  well  can  those  interested  in  the  great  and  glorious 
enterprise,  on  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  set  forth,  enter 
into  his  feelings  of  joyous  exultation,  on  arriving  at  the 
sphere  of  his  long-desired  labors!  What  heart  will  not 
beat  in  unison  with  that  of  the  ardent  and  youthful  mission- 
ary, at  the  brightening  prospect,  and  the  promise  of  a  speedy 


WELCOME  IN  CALCUTTA. 


63 


realization  of  all  his  hopes !  But  many  a  hard  struggle  lay 
before  him,  many  a  conflict  with  the  giant  powers  of  darkness, 
which  are  still  permitted  to  hold  such  terrific  sway  in  hea- 
then India. 

In  a  day  or  two,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  introduced  to  the 
beloved  and  revered  Archdeacon  Corrie,  and  others.  The 
Rev.  T.  Dealtry,  who  had  succeeded  Thomason,  as  chaplain 
at  the  Old  or  Mission  Church  in  Calcutta,  which  was  first 
built  by  that  remarkable  and  devoted  missionary,  Mr.  Kier- 
nander,  was  also  peculiarly  kind  and  aflfectionate  towards 
him ;  but  he  did  not  lack  kindness  on  all  sides.  Mr.  Lacroix, 
with  whom  he  became  so  intimate,  and  so  much  connected 
all  through  his  missionary  course,  thus  expresses  his  own 
feelings  after  his  sudden  removal :  "  I  became  acquainted 
with  dear  Weitbrecht  from  the  time  of  his  landing  in  In- 
dia ;  and  very  soon  after,  similarity  of  views  and  feelings  on 
most  topics  in  which,  as  men,  as  Christians,  and  as  missiona- 
ries, we  were  interested,  drew  us  to  each  other,  and  led  to  a 
friendship,  which  was  never  interrupted  for  a  moment,  up 
to  his  removal  from  this  earthly  scene ;  and  it  is  now  sweet 
to  me,  to  hope  that,  when  our  common  Lord  calls  me  hence, 
this  fi-iendship  will  be  renewed,  and  continued,  in  those 
happy  realms  of  peace,  where  all  those  that  are  Christ's  will 
be  permitted  to  dwell  together  with  Him  for  ever. " 


64 


MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Journey  to  Burdwan — Eesidence  and  Employments  in  Calcutta — Desig- 
nation to  Burdwan — Sketch  of  the  Commencement  of  the  Mission 
there — Settles  and  begins  his  labors  at  that  Station. 

1830—31. 

During  February,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  accompanied  some 
clerical  friends,  on  a  visit  to  Burdwan ;  and  his  journal  kept 
on  this,  his  first  tour  through  the  scene  of  his  future  labors, 
is  very  graphic  and  interesting.  He  was  not  then  aware, 
that  Burdwan  would  become  his  residence,  as  he  had  been 
expressly  designated,  by  the  Home  Committee,  for  Calcutta ; 
but  on  account  of  the  feeling  then  existing  with  regard  to 
Germans,  it  was  eventually  arranged  by  the  Calcutta  Com- 
mittee, that  he  should  occupy  a  country  station.  Burdwan 
was  a  favorite  place  with  Archdeacon  Corrie,  and  other 
good  men,  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  regarded  by  them,  as 
well  fitted  for  the  locality  and  the  duties  there.  Nor  were 
they  mistaken  in  the  view  they  took.  It  was  doubtless  the 
sphere  chosen  by  God  for  him ;  and,  in  many  respects,  it 
opened  to  him  doors  to  usefulness,  especially  in  itinerating 
among  the  villagers,  which  he  would  not  have  enjoyed  so 
fully  in  Calcutta.  He  was  himself  perfectly  satisfied  with 
the  decision  of  the  Committee,  and  as  time  advanced  he 
became  more  and  more  thankful  that  he  had  been  placed 
there. 


SCENES  ON   THE  HOOGHLY. 


65 


The  following  are  a  few  extracts  from  his  journal : 
"  February  1th.  It  was  a  cool,  pleasant  mornhig  when  I 
embarked,  with  brother  Sandys,  in  a  little  boat,  to  proceed 
up  the  river  to  Chinsurah.  Archdeacon  Corrie,  and  Messrs. 
Dealtry  and  Macpherson,  had  preceded  us.  The  scenery 
on  the  banks  is  very  pretty,  and  many  things  strike  those 
who  observe  them  for  the  first  time.  Every  mile  or  two, 
pagodas  appear  near  the  river,  with  handsome  flights  of 
steps  before  them,  which  lead  down  into  the  water.  These 
are  called  ghauts  ;  and  it  is  considered  a  very  meritorious 
act,  in  a  rich  man,  to  build  one.  They  are  indeed  very  use- 
ful to  the  poor,  and  to  the  public  at  large.  Crowds  of 
Hindus,  both  men  and  women,  were  bathing  at  all  these 
places,  partly  to  purify  their  persons ;  but  they  have  another 
object  in  view,  that  is,  to  wash  away  their  sins,  by  the  virtue 
of  the  water  of  this  holy  river.  Women  are  seen  with  lit- 
tle bunches  of  flowers,  which  they  purchase  from  the  priest 
in  the  temple  before  they  descend  the  ghaut.  These  they 
oflfer  to  the  goddess  Gunga,  (the  river,)  making,  at  the  same 
time,  their  poojah  or  prayers  to  her.  These  little  nosegays 
are  seen  floating  about  in  all  directions.  Alas  !  how  true  it 
is,  that  a  deceived  heart  hath  turned  them  aside.  At  inter- 
vals, between  the  pagodas,  which  generally  communicate 
with  a  Hindu  village  a  little  inland,  I  observed  pretty 
houses,  inhabited  by  Europeans,  and  standing  in  the  midst 
of  beautiful  gardens,  full  of  gorgeous  flowers,  which  blossom 
in  profusion  here,  interspersed  with  groves  of  mango, 
tamarind,  and  other  trees,  in  pleasing  variety.  The  rich 
foliage  descends,  in  many  places,  to  the  very  edge  of  the 
stream,  and  the  trees  often  dip  their  branches  into  the 
water,  at  fiill  tide.  In  several  places,  we  saw  the  blaz- 
ing funeral  pile,  where  the  body  of  some  deceased  Huidu, 
of  high  caste,  was  being  consumed  ;  but  the  corpses  of  the 
lowest  classes  are  cast  entire  into  the  water,  and  they  meet 


(56  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

the  eye  on  all  sides.  If  the  relatives  of  the  deceased  can 
afford  a  little  fuel,  they  singe  the  corpse  before  casting  it 
into  the  stream  ;  first  doubling  up  the  limbs  over  the  body 
to  give  it  a  compact  form.  We  observed  several  floating 
down  the  stream,  with  vultures  and  crows  feeding  upon 
them.  At  noon,  we  passed  Serampore.  What  a  refresh- 
ing spectacle  to  a  Zion-bound  pilgrim,  to  see  the  spire  of  a 
Christian  church,  surrounded  by  a  goodly  array  of  mission- 
ary dwellings,  after  feeling  one's  soul  vexed  within  one,  by 
the  hosts  of  idol  temples  that  abound  on  all  sides !  In  two 
hours  more,  we  were  at  Chinsurah,  a  settlement  which,  till 
lately,  belonged  to  the  Dutch ;  renowned  for  its  tobacco 
plantations,  and  the  manufacture  of  segars.  It  has  a  mis- 
sion establishment  in  connection  with  the  London  Mission- 
ary Society.  Here  again  a  Christian  church  gladdened  our 
sight.  It  stands  on  the  river  side.  The  reach  of  the  Hoogh- 
ly,  just  above  this  place,  is  exquisitely  lovely. 

"  From  Chinsurah  we  proceeded  by  land,  and  the  style 
of  travelling,  so  totally  new  to  me,  quite  amused  me. 
Eight  bearers  are  appointed  to  one  palanquin ;  four  of 
whom  carry  it  on  their  shoulders,  in  turn,  by  means  of 
poles  affixed  to  the  ends,  and  then  exchange  with  the  other 
four.  They  go  about  as  quickly  as  bad  post-horses  in 
France,  have  a  peculiar  song  or  chant,  by  which  they  en- 
courage each  other ;  sometimes  this  relates  to  the  traveller, 
and  is  perhaps  a  description  of  his  person,  if  he  be  stout  or 
thin,  tall  or  short,  etc.,  which  they  bring  into  measure  and 
doggrel  rhyme.  They  also  breathe  in  a  particular  way,  and 
thus  measure  their  distances  and  keep  in  step.  This  makes 
the  inexperienced  traveller  fancy  they  are  very  tired,  and 
groaning  from  fatigue ;  but  it  is  not  so.  They  like  their 
occupation,  and  have  a  sort  of  professional  pride  about 
them ;  they  are  also  stronger  and  more  athletic  than  other 
laborers,  as  they  earn  more  money,  and  have  better  food. 


DAK  TRAVELLING. 


67 


Besides  the  eight  men  who  carry  the  palanquin,  one  or  more, 
as  need  be,  carry  the  luggage,  which  consists  of  square 
boxes,  generally  made  of  tin,  and  slung  by  cords  fixed  to 
the  end  of  a  bamboo,  which  is  borne  across  the  man's 
shoulder.  Another  man  is  supplied  with  a  bamboo  cane 
filled  with  oil,  and  a  piece  of  wood,  which  is  covered  with 
old  linen,  and  kept  wetted  with  the  oil.  This  he  lights,  and 
it  forms  an  excellent  torch.  As  journeys  are  always  per- 
formed at  night,  each  palanquin  must  be  attended  by  a 
torch-bearer,  so  that  one  can  not  have  less  than  ten  men. 
These  change  at  intervals  of  six  or  eight  miles,  and  we  had 
forty  individuals  employed  for  each  of  us,  between  Chin 
surah  and  Burdwan,  a  distance  of  about  forty  miles.  When- 
ever they  change,  they  rouse  you  from  your  sleep,  and  de- 
mand buckshish,  (a  present,)  though  they  have  been  paid 
before.  The  English,  who  spoil  people  with  money  wher- 
ever they  go,  universally  give  something,  so  that  it  has  be- 
come an  established  custom.  Government  employ  native 
officers,  called  dak  moonshees,  to  manage  this  business ;  and 
they  '  lay  a  dak,'  as  it  is  called,  and  send  the  traveller  the 
bOl,  which  he  discharges.  These  unprincipled  men  are,  of 
course,  aware  of  the  custom  of  making  a  present ;  and,  in 
general,  deduct  from  the  hire  of  the  bearers  as  much  as  they 
believe  them  to  have  got  from  the  traveller,  and  put  the 
surplus  into  their  own  purses. 

"  On  Wednesday,  at  8  a.m.,  we  arrived  at  the  retired 
mission  premises  of  Burdwan,  which  are  very  prettily  situat- 
ed. Brother  Deer,  who  was  one  of  the  first-fruits  of  our 
Basle  Seminary,  received  us  with  joy.  He  is  grown  old  in 
fighting  the  battles  of  the  Lord,  and  has  gained  some  vic- 
tories, being  surrounded  by  a  little  flock  of  native  Christ- 
ians. We  saw  the  boys'  and  girls'  schools,  and  they  were 
examined  before  us.  Most  of  them  are  still  heathen,  but 
they  answered  the  questions  put  to  them,  on  the  historical 


68  MEMOIR  OF  KEV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  doctrinal  parts  of  Scripture,  readily  and  correctly ;  and 
we  could  not  but  hope  that  the  seed  that  has  been  sown  in 
their  tender  hearts,  might  spring  up.  On  the  9th,  Mr. 
Dealtry  preached  in  the  little  English  chapel  to  the  Euro- 
pean residents,  and  his  sermon  made  a  deep  impression,  so 
that  the  people  determined,  from  henceforth,  to  meet  among 
themselves,  and  read  the  prayers  and  lessons  ;  and  Messrs. 
Dealtry  and  Macpherson  promised  to  visit  them,  by  turns, 
every  six  weeks.  On  the  12th,  we  had  a  service  with  the 
native  Christians.  Archdeacon  Corrie  and  brother  Sandys 
addressed  them,  directing  their  attention  to  the  nature  of  the 
preparation  for  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  showing  them  the 
state  of  heart  in  which  a  believer  can  fitly  partake  of  the 
holy  ordinance.  On  the  Sunday  morning  the  Archdeacon 
preached  in  English,  and  administered  the  sacrament,  and 
afterwards,  we  joined  in  the  same  services  in  Bengali  with 
the  native  converts.  It  was  the  first  time  that  I  had  ap- 
proached the  table  of  the  Lord,  in  communion  with  Hindu 
Christians,  and  I  felt  much. 

"  On  Monday,  Captain  Vetch,  a  pious  resident,  called  on 
Mr.  Deer,  and  invited  him  to  accompany  him,  on  a  little 
tour  he  was  about  to  make  towards  Bancoorah.  I  gave  up 
the  idea  of  following  my  other  friends  to  Culna,  where  they 
had  gone  to  see  the  station  there,  and  went  with  brother 
Deer  and  his  friend,  on  this  missionary  excursion.  We 
travelled  on  the  Captain's  elephant,  but  took  our  palanquins 
with  us.  The  first  object  that  attracted  my  notice  was  a 
temple  of  Juggernath,  that  had  been  struck  by  lightning, 
which  had  consumed  both  the  building  and  the  car  of  the 
idol.  The  Eajah  of  Burdwan  is  a  great  supporter  of  idola- 
try, so  the  priests  had  applied  to  him  for  an  offering  to 
make  atonement,  as  they  said  the  accident  had  been  caused 
by  the  displeasure  the  god  had  felt,  at  some  great  crime 
which  had  been  committed.    He  offered  a  little  car  of  silver, 


PRIMITIVE  COOKERY. 


69 


in  the  shape  of  the  larger  one  of  wood,  and  afterwards 
bought  it  from  them  again  for  a  high  price ;  this  satisfied 
their  avarice. 

"  We  crossed  the  large  mountain  torrent  which  runs 
along  the  west  of  the  Burdwan  district.  It  is  a  wide  river 
in  the  rainy  reason,  but  was  now  nearly  dry.  We  encamped 
at  night  in  a  mango  grove.  We  had  about  seventy  persons 
in  our  train,  and  I  enjoyed  my  first  night  in  tents  very 
much.  The  mild  rays  of  the  moon  cast  their  pleasing  light 
between  the  palm-trees,  upon  om'  tent,  and  the  air  was  per- 
fumed with  the  odor  of  the  mango  blossoms.  In  the  morn- 
ing, we  again  mounted  our  elephant ;  the  motion  was  at 
first  very  tiring  to  me,  but  I  soon  got  accustomed  to  it. 
Every  step  taken  by  the  huge  animal  seems  to  give  you  a 
rough  push,  as  you  sit  on  his  back  ;  but  after  the  first  day, 
I  quite  enjoyed  it.  In  the  evening,  we  passed  through  a 
village,  and  the  people  were  soon  attracted  towards  us  ;  so 
we  halted,  and  brother  Deer  made  a  pulpit  of  the  elephant's 
back,  and  addressed  them,  on  the  way  of  salvation  through 
Jesus  Christ."' 

A  severe  rain  obliged  them,  soon  after,  to  take  shelter  in 
a  native  hut,  and  Mr.  W.  adds  : 

"  On  Sunday  morning  we  kept  quiet ;  our  little  Hindu 
hut  became  a  sanctuary.  We  had  divine  service  together, 
and  enjoyed  a  blessed  Sabbath  in  the  Bengal  jungles.  In 
the  afternoon,  brother  Deer  preached  in  the  villages,  and 
was  heard  with  great  attention.  We  find  Captain  Vetch,  a 
dear  brother  in  the  Lord. 

"  If  a  European  cook  were  called  upon  to  prepare  a  din- 
ner, with  no  kitchen  but  the  wet  ground,  no  fuel  but  green 
wood,  and  no  utensils  except  a  few  rude  earthen  vessels,  he 
would  feel  almost  at  a  loss  how  to  manage  the  business  ; 
but  a  Hindu  is  able  to  make  the  best  of  his  scanty  resources, 
and  I  have  been  both  surprised  and  amused  at  the  skill 


70  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


shown  hj  our  cook,  T\ho  dug  three  holes  in  the  wet  ground, 
and  surrounded  each  with  a  little  bank  of  earth ;  he  then  plac- 
ed a  few  sticks  in  the  holes,  got  them  to  ignite,  fixed  the  primi- 
tive earthen  pots  on  the  fire,  and  savory  meats  were  soon 
steaming,  and,  at  the  end  of  an  hour,  ready  for  our  repast. 

"  Not  far  from  this  spot  there  is  a  town,  where  a  suttee 
was  arranged  about  two  years  ago.  The  preparations  were 
all  made,  and  the  poor  widow  was  carried  out  to  be  burned, 
and  placed  upon  the  pile  with  the  body  of  her  deceased  hus- 
band. The  flame  blazed  up,  and  the  wretched  victim  jump- 
ed down  and  escaped  to  her  cottage.  The  European  magis- 
trate immediately  followed  her,  to  protect  her  from  the  in- 
furiated Brahmuns,  and  prevent  her  being  carried  back. 
Finding  this  rather  a  difficult  task,  he  took  a  segar  which  he 
was  smoking,  from  his  mouth,  and  applied  the  lighted  end 
to  the  Brahmun's  arm,  who  immediately  cried  out  with 
pain.  He  did  not,  however,  remove  it  at  once,  but  told 
him  he  must  teach  him  to  feel  what  burning  was,  that  he 
might  become  willing  to  let  the  poor  widow  escape  her 
dreadful  fate.  This  practical  lesson  had  its  effect,  and  the 
Brahmuns  all  slunk  away,  without  further  attempts  to  force 
the  widow  to  return  to  the  funeral  pile. 

"  Mr.  Deer  had  frequent  opportunities  of  declaring  the 
Gospel,  while  I  listened;  but  part  of  our  way  lay  through 
very  dense  jungle.  One  day,  as  we  were  in  the  midst  of  a 
forest,  a  tremendous  storm  came  on,  and  soaked  us  through, 
as  we  were  much  exposed  on  the  back  of  the  elephant.  The 
thunder  roared  over  us,  and  a  flash  of  lightning  struck  the 
ground  just  beside  us ;  so  we  dismounted  from  our  lofty 
position,  and  stood  without  shelter  till  the  ram  ceased,  and 
then  went  on  towards  a  village.  When  we  reached  it,  and 
asked  for  shelter,  it  was  at  first  refused,  as  the  building  we 
desired  to  occupy  was  said  to  be  a  holy  place,  where  the 
people  sometimes  brought  an  idol  and  sung  to  it.    Mr.  Deer 


BURDWAN  COAL  MINES, 


71 


said  :  '  Well,  we  will  sing  too  ;  come  this  evening  and  hear 
us.'  They  took  him  at  his  word  and  came.  We  sang  a 
Bengal  hymn  together,  then  he  prayed,  and  read  to  them  the 
third  chapter  of  John,  and  conversed  upon  it.  They  were 
all  attention,  and  left  this  new  house  of  prayer  with  the 
impression  that  they  had  heard  marvellous  things,  for  it 
was  the  first  time  they  had  ever  seen  white  men,  or  knew 
there  were  such  people  as  Christians.  They  told  us  the 
place  was  much  infested  by  bears  and  tigers ;  but  as  we  had 
no  other  shelter,  we  commended  ourselves  to  the  care  of 
Him  who  never  slumbereth,  and  lay  down  in  our  palan- 
quins and  slept  soundly. 

"  On  the  25th,  we  reached  Bancoorah,  after  crossing  a 
river  winding  through  fertile  fields,  with  its  banks  covered 
with  bushes  and  trees,  in  pleasing  variety.  This  town  con- 
tains eight  thousand  inhabitants  ;  it  lies  in  an  elevated  posi- 
tion, and  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  healthy  spots  in  Ben- 
gal. The  face  of  the  country  is  undulating,  the  soil  rocky, 
and  to  the  south  are  fine  hills.  The  scenery  in  that  direc- 
tion reminds  me  of  Devonshire.  Dr.  Cheek  received  us 
most  kindly ;  and  brother  Deer  was  delighted  and  en- 
couraged by  the  pleasing,  unprejudiced,  and  open  character 
of  the  people  of  the  bazaar,*  who  listened  to  his  preaching 
with  singular  attention.  It  would  be,  in  many  respects, 
very  suitable  for  a  mission  station,  and  Dr.  Cheek  would 
give  a  dwelling  for  a  missionary,  and  his  liberal  support  in 
many  ways.  On  Sunday  we  had  divine  service  in  his  house ; 
I  preached,  and  went  afterwards  to  see  a  dying  woman,  who 
was,  I  trust,  prepared  for  her  great  change." 

From  Bancoorah,  they  proceeded,  in  another  direction, 
towards  the  coal-mines,  and  when  they  reached  them  they 
descended  into  the  pits.    The  ground  here  consists  of  sand- 


*  Trading  part  of  the  town. 


72  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

stone  on  the  surface,  and  a  layer  of  slate  below,  and  then  the 
layer  of  coals.  On  splitting  some  tables  of  slate,  they  found 
on  them  the  impressions  of  reeds,  leaves,  and  flowers  ;  and, 
on  one  piece,  that  of  a  trunk  of  a  tree.  The  beautiful 
prospect  here  delighted  them.  From  this  place  they  made 
their  way  back  to  Burdwan,  and,  on  coming  near  it,  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  visited  one  hundred  Shiva  temples,  united  toge- 
ther, and  forming  a  square,  with  twenty-five  distinct  temples 
on  each  side,  and  a  court  in  the  centre.  It  is  a  large  idola- 
trous establishment,  and  was  erected  and  is  maintained  by 
the  Rajah  of  Burdwan.  "This  excursion,"  he  adds,  "has 
been  very  interesting  to  me,  and  important,  for  my  pur- 
pose in  many  respects.  I  now  feel  a  little  acquainted  with 
Bengal,  and  with  the  character,  habits,  and  disposition  of  the 
people ;  and,  from  the  proceedings  of  an  experienced  mis- 
sionary brother,  I  have  learned  much  of  the  way  in  which  the 
messenger  of  peace  can  best  find  access  to  the  hearts  of  the 
benighted  Hindus." 

On  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  return  to  Calcutta  he  suffered  from 
indisposition,  which  reduced  him  exceedingly,  but  he  soon 
recovered,  and  on  the  whole,  enjoyed  good  health  and  was 
able  to  study,  from  seven  in  the  morning  till  four  in  the 
afternoon,  which  brought  him  on  rapidly  in  Bengali.  He 
also  preached,  when  he  found  opportunity,  in  English,  and  on 
the  8th  of  March  he  writes :  "  I  drove,  with  brother  Sandys, 
to  Dum  Dum,  a  military  station  near  Calcutta,  and  ad- 
dressed the  soldiers.  The  Lord  gave  me  inward  joy  to  tes- 
tify of  Him.  On  noticing  some  things  he  disapproved  of, 
in  a  brother  missionary  at  this  time,  he  writes :  "  The  Timo- 
thys are  rare,  who  no  longer  seek  their  own,  but  only  what 
is  the  Lord's.  May  I  learn  a  lesson,  and  have  my  conversa- 
tion in  heaven  while  my  tabernacle  remains  upon  earth !" 
He  was  truly  attached  to  his  lowly-minded  brother  Sandys. 

In  May  the  decision  was  made  regarding  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 


LOCATION   AT  BURDWAN. 


73 


sphere  of  labor.  He  at  first  supposed  it  would  be  Bancoo- 
rah,  from  a  conversation  he  had  had  with  Archdeacon  Corrie, 
who  told  him  that  the  residents  there  had  offered  120  Rs.  a 
month,  a  house,  and  many  other  advantages,  if  the'Society 
would,  consent  to  make  it  one  of  their  stations  ;  but  the 
Committee,  on  consultation  and  mature  deliberation,  deemed 
it  more  prudent  to  fix  him  at  Burdwan,  and  strengthen  the 
mission  there.  He  was,  however,  directed  to  make  monthly 
visits  to  the  former  place,  and  to  carry  on,  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, the  same  duties  there  as  at  Burdwan.  Dr.  Cheek  had 
already  a  good  school  there,  supported  by  himself.  To  this 
others  were  to  be  added  in  due  time,  and  a  native  catechist 
permanently  located  on  the  spot,  to  inspect  them  daily,  and 
to  preach  among  the  people.  He  thus  writes  on  learning 
their  decision  :  "  I  had,  for  some  days,  lived  in  imagination 
at  Bancoorah,  among  friends  I  had  already  learned  to  love, 
and  the  decision  was  a  sort  of  disappointment  to  me  ;  but 
I  can,  with  full  acquiescence,  leave  the  matter  in  the  Lord's 
hands,  and  bow  under  this  light  cross,  of  which  this  life  of 
trial  may  have  many  a  heavier  one  in  store  for  me.  I  re- 
joice to  join  a  German  brother,  who  has  experience  in  the 
work,  though  I  much  regret  leaving  my  dear  brother  Sandys, 
who  ought  not  to  have  to  stand  alone." 

In  the  prospect  of  going  to  Burdwan,  we  find  the  follow- 
ing entry  in  the  journal :  "As  I  shall  have  my  own  house  at 
Burdwan,  and  it  is  likely  to  be  my  permanent  station,  the 
thought  continually  presents  itself  to  me,  whether  the  time 
has  not  arrived  for  me  to  seek  a  helpmate.  Imagination 
will  be  busy,  and  I  often  find  myself  forming  images  of  the 
future,  which  may  perhaps  never  be  realized.  Biit  it  is  my 
earnest  desire  to  let  the  Lord  guide  and  direct  every  thing 
concerning  me,  without  my  own  interference.  How  needful 
it  is  to  watch  and  pray,  to  exercise  faith  and  patience,  lest 
we  fall  into  temptation  !  May  the  Lord,  in  His  own  good 
4 


74  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

time,  show  me  the  heart  which  He  has  chosen  to  be  united 
with  mine,  and  the  companion  He  intends  for  me  on  my 
pilgrimage  to  Zion,  to  aid  me  in  His  work  !  With  respect 
to  whom,  and  when,  and  how,  I  will,  with  Abraham,  learn  to 
believe  and  wait  for  the  promise." 

During  the  three  lonely  years  that  intervened  between 
the  record  of  this  prayer  and  the  time  when  it  was  answered, 
a  season  of  solitary  trial,  peculiarly  painful  to  a  man  of  his 
social  and  tenderly-affectionate  disposition,  he  made  this 
matter  a  subject  of  continual  supplication  ;  and  when,  at  last, 
his  desire  was  fulfilled,  he  regarded  it  as  the  granting  of  "  a 
precious  gift,  out  of  his  Lord's  gracious  hands."  Thus 
sweetly,  did  his  childlike,  trustful  spirit  realize  the  fatherly 
care  and  love  of  his  best  Friend,  in  all  the  events  that  befel 
him ! 

Before  introducing  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  his  station,  we  must 
give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  establishment  of  the  Burdwan 
Mission. 

The  town  of  Burdwan  is  about  seventy-two  miles  north- 
west of  Calcutta,  and  is  situated  near  the  western  confines 
of  the  rich,  fertile,  and  populous  Zillah,  or  District,  of  which 
it  is  considered  the  capital. 

The  Mission  was  commenced  in  1816  by  Captain  Stewart, 
a  pious  and  devoted  servant  of  the  East-India  Company,  and 
he  continued  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  it  till  his  death,  in 
1833,  though  in  his  latter  years,  he  was  much  tried  by 
affliction.  In  the  first  year  he  established  two  vernacular 
schools,  and  in  two  years  the  number  had  increased  to  ten, 
containing  a  thousand  children,  and  costing  240  Rs.  a  month. 
In  the  beginning,  he  encountered  considerable  opposition, 
and  the  Brahmuns  circulated  reports  among  the  people,  that 
it  was  his  design  to  ship  all  the  children  to  England.  If  a 
book  contained  the  name  of  Jesus,  they  forbade  the  boys  to 
read  it ;  and  an  instance  occurred,  in  which  a  parent  exposed 


COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  MISSION. 


75 


his  little  son  to  the  jackals,  to  be  devoured  during  the  night, 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  his  being  educated  by  Captain 
Stewart.  Five  schools  were  carried  on  in  Burdwan,  at  this 
time,  by  the  Brahmuns  themselves,  and  their  ire  was  raised 
at  the  prospect  of  being  ruined  by  these  new-comers.  They 
fulminated  curses  on  all  who  sent  their  children  to  Captain 
Stewart's  schools ;  but  he  went  quietly  forward,  and  chose 
his  teachers  from  among  the  ablest  natives,  in  the  villages 
where  they  were  situated.  He  thus  disarmed  opposition  by 
the  bait  of  interest,  so  that  the  five  heathen  schools  soon  died 
of  themselves.  The  introduction  of  printed  books  into  the 
schools  at  first  caused  some  alarm,  the  people  fearing  it  to 
be  a  plan  for  depriving  them  of  their  caste,  as  all  instruction 
had  been  previously  conveyed  through  manuscript ;  and  it 
was  remarked  of  the  village  schoolmasters :  "  If  you  put  a 
printed  book  into  their  hands,  they  are  unable  to  read  it 
without  great  difficulty,  and  are  still  less  able  to  understand 
its  contents."  Besides  the  outlines  of  geography,  astronomy, 
and  history.  Captain  S.  caused  instruction  to  be  given  in 
some  few  of  the  preambles  of  the  East-India  Company's 
regulations,  which  are  particularly  calculated  to  convince  the 
Hindus  that  government  anxiously  desires  to  promote  their 
comfort  and  advantage.  By  reading  these,  he  hoped  to  give 
the  youthful  mind  an  impression  favorable  to  their  rulers, 
and,  upon  this,  to  found  principles  of  submission,  attachment, 
and  love.  He  was,  at  the  same  time,  very  bold  on  the 
subject  of  Christianity,  which  he  brought  before  both  pupils 
and  teachers  continually.  He  knew  Bengali  well,  and 
translated  a  useful  book.  He  also  composed  a  pamphlet^ 
giving  an  account  of  the  principal  idols,  and  divulging  some 
of  the  sacred  mysteries  of  the  Hindu  religion ;  and  that  the 
odium  of  this  might  not  fall  on  the  missionaries,  he  appended 
his  own  name  to  it.  In  these  seminaries,  the  children  knew 
of  no  precedency,  but  that  which  was  derived  from  merit. 


76  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

The  Brahmun  boy  and  his  ignoble  neighbor,  sat  side  by  side, 
and  if  the  latter  excelled  the  former  in  learning,  as  was  often 
the  case,  he  stood  above  him.  These  schools  became  so 
celebrated,  that  the  Calcutta  School  Society  sent  its  superin- 
tendent, for  five  months,  to  Burdwan,  in  1819,  to  learn  the 
system  of  Captain  Stewart's  schools  ;  as  he  educated  a  great- 
er number  of  children  with  fewer  teachers,  than  by  the  old 
system,  and  at  half  the  expense.  The  missionaries,  when 
settled  at  Burdwan,  followed  up  his  efforts,  and  when,  some 
years  after,  about  1837,  Mr.  W.  Adam  visited  Burdwan,  as 
commissioner  from  government,  to  report  on  the  state  of 
education,  he  ascertained  that  Burdwan  was  the  best-educa- 
ted district  in  Bengal ;  though,  even  there,  only  the  one 
hundred  and  sixtieth  part  of  the  school-going  population 
received  instruction.  Most  of  the  sircars  (that  is,  account- 
keepers)  filling  offices  in  mercantile  houses  in  Calcutta,  are 
from  this,  comparatively  speaking,  favored  district. 

In  1819,  Captain  Stewart  purchased  a  plot  of  ground,  on 
behalf  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  as  a  missionary 
locality  or  compound.  It  was  in  a  retired  part  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  about  two  miles  distant  from  the  bazaar. 
Archdeacon  Corrie  and  other  friends,  who  visited  the  place, 
approved  of  the  site,  which  has  subsequently  proved  a  very 
suitable  one,  though,  with  the  various  advantages  connected 
with  it,  there  has  been  a  drawback  arising  from  its  distance 
from  the  town,  which  has  caused  a  good  deal  of  additional 
labor  and  fatigue  to  the  missionary,  many  of  whose  import- 
ant duties  lie  there.  There  was  one  house  standing  in  the 
compound  when  it  was  purchased,  and  it  contained  an  area 
of  twenty-three  acres  of  land.  In  due  time,  the  Society 
erected  another  house,  as  it  was  always  proposed  to  locate 
two  missionaries  there.  On  and  around  this  very  spot,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  Mahrattas,  the  Goths  of  India, 
were  encamped  in  1742.    "  They  were  men  whose  musnuds 


FIRST  MISSIONARIES,  JETIER,  DEER,  AND  PEROWNE.  77 

were  their  horses,  their  sceptres  their  swords,  and  their 
dominion  the  wide  line  of  their  desolating  march."  What  a 
contrast  to  the  character  of  those  messengers  of  peace,  whose 
blessed  and  holy  influence  is  now  casting  its  reflection  on  the 
people  around !  This  extensive  and  desirable  estate  was 
purchased  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  for  the  small 
sum  of  £400,  and  in  the  same  year,  Messrs.  Jetter  and  Deer 
arrived  at  the  station,  as  the  first  missionaries.  Both  these 
brethren  acquired  the  language  well,  and  labored  diligently. 
Mr.  Jetter  was,  after  some  time,  removed  to  Calcutta. 
While  at  Burdwan,  he  was  put  in  charge  of  an  English 
school  just  then  formed.  When  Messrs.  Thomason  and 
Sherer  visited  it  in  1820,  they  found  it  contained  fifty  boys 
in  a  good  state  of  progress,  but  in  1822  it  was  removed  to 
the  mission  premises,  and  the  attendance  diminished,  the 
parents  thinking  it  a  scheme  to  force  their  children  to  be 
Christians. 

In  1820,  Mr.  Perowne,  an  English  clergyman,  arrived, 
when  the  residents  set  a  subscription  on  foot  for  the  erection 
of  an  English  chapel ;  and  application  being  made  to  govern- 
ment, an  eligible  spot  of  ground  was  assigned  for  the  site, 
and  an  order  issued  to  supply  the  sum  necessary  to  complete 
the  building  out  of  the  public  fimds.  Mr.  Betts,  a  resident 
at  Burdwan,  subsequently  made  some  handsome  presents  to 
the  chapel.  Mr.  Perowne  devoted  much  time  to  the  Eng- 
lish school,  and  formed  it  into  a  boarding-school.  He  had 
one  convert  from  it,  in  the  person  of  the  senior  monitor,  and 
twenty  of  the  boys  regularly  attended  family  worship,  but  it 
declined  entirely  after  his  departure.  This  was  the  first 
boarding-school  for  heathen  boys  established  in  Bengal. 

In  1822,  the  baptism  of  two  adults  took  place.  They 
were  the  first  spiritual  fruits  of  the  schools,  and  had  been 
catechumens  for  nine  months  previously.  Their  names, 
which  had  been  idolatrous,  were  changed ;  and  Mr.  Deer 


78  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

remarks,  that  the  prayers  and  form  of  baptism  made  a  deep 
impression  on  them  ;  and  that  even  the  pundit,  who  translat- 
ed the  service  with  him,  was  greatly  affected  with  it,  as 
such  a  contrast  to  their  childish  play.  One  of  these  converts, 
named  James,  was  subsequently  made  the  instrument  of 
leading  his  father,  uncle,  and  three  brothers  to  a  knowledge 
of  the  truth. 

In  1826,  Mr.  Perowne  returned  to  Europe,  and  Mr.  Deer 
was  alone  till  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht  in  1831.  He 
labored  perseveringly  in  the  schools  and  in  public  preaching, 
and  education  continued  to  flourish.  Mr.  Perowne  and  Mr. 
Jetter  had  both  been  diligent  missionaries,  and,  under  their 
efforts,  prejudices  had  greatly  given  way  among  the  natives. 
On  Mr.  J etter's  first  arrival,  the  Hindus  were  afraid  even  to 
touch  a  Bible,  as  they  thought  it  contained  some  charm  or 
spell  which  would  render  them  Christians  ;  but  in  1826,  we 
find  three  preaching-chapels  spoken  of,  and  Mr.  Perowne 
preaching  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  people.  They  were  also 
allowed  to  distribute  the  Gospel  in  their  various  school- 
houses.  The  Brahmuns  who  were  employed  as  teachers, 
attended  divine  service  on  Sundays  regularly  for  several 
years,  and  professed  to  be  under  convictions  of  truth,  so  that 
at  length  a  day  was  fixed  for  their  baptism.  They  visited 
Mr.  Deer  so  diligently  for  some  weeks  previously,  that  they 
hardly  allowed  him  time  to  eat ;  but,  as  the  period  for  their 
baptism  approached,  they  withdrew  under  various  pretenses, 
and  one  of  them,  at  last,  made  a  full  confession  to  him,  and 
told  him  that  the  whole  plan  was  a  scheme  for  procuring 
good  employment.  Mr.  Deer  had  fourteen  schools  under 
his  superintendence,  containing  a  thousand  boys,  and  scat, 
tered  over  a  space  of  forty  miles  in  diameter.  He  spent  his 
mornings  in  them,  and  his  evenings  with  adults,  but  he 
diminished  them  after  his  sad  disappointment  with  the 
teachers.    A  girls'  school  was  commenced  in  1823  by  Mrs. 


COMPARISON  OF  PAST  AND  PRESENT  CONDITION.  79 


Perowne,  and  she  succeeded  so  well  in  disarming  prejudice, 
that  she  had  two  hundred  girls  under  instruction  in  the  dif- 
ferent villages.  Mrs.  Deer  subsequently  carried  on  these 
schools,  which  were  collected  into  one  central  school  in  1831 ; 
and  this  was  continued  till  it  was  evident  a  more  effective 
plan  was  necessary  for  benefiting  the  native  females,  who 
stand  in  India  in  a  very  different  position  to  the  male  popu- 
lation, and  who  must  come  under  other  modes  of  culture. 

We  have  thus  brought  up  the  history  of  the  Burdwan 
Mission  to  the  period  when  it  came  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  Its  subsequent  progress  will  be  delineated  in 
the  course  of  the  narrative.  It  will  be  perceived,  that  this 
has  been  gradual,  but  decided  ;  and  what  a  contrast  does  this 
spot  now  present  to  former  days  !  In  a  tank  opposite  the 
Mission  House,  the  skulls  of  persons  who  had  been  the 
victims  of  Thugs,  were  found  so  late  as  1837 ;  and  in  an 
adjacent  grove,  numbers  of  the  corpses  of  similar  victims 
are  believed  to  have  been  buried.  Last  century,  on  the 
approach  of  the  Mahratta  cavalry,  thirty  women  plunged 
into  a  neighboring  stream  and  drowned  themselves,  pre- 
ferring death  to  dishonor.  Now,  the  same  neighborhood 
resounds  vrith  the  busy  hum  of  boys  and  girls,  peacefully 
and  cheerfully  occupied,  under  the  eye  of  Christian  parents 
and  teachers,  who  are  endeavoring  to  train  them  for  future 
usefulness.* 

*  This  district  is  peculiarly  favorable  for  the  labors  of  the  itinerant 
missionary.  It  is  most  thickly  populated  by  a  comparatively  speaking 
intelligent  race,  the  chief  part  of  whom  are  agriculturists,  whose  minds 
are  generally  found,  in  some  measm-e,  open  to  good  impressions,  both 
among  the  Hindus  and  Mussulmans.  The  latter  are  scattered  through 
the  towns  and  villages,  in  the  proportion  of  one  seventh  or  eighth  of  the 
whole  population.  Large  towns  and  villages,  of  from  four  to  forty 
thousand  inhabitants,  are  continually  found,  especially  on  the  western 
side  of  the  district ;  the  locaUty  is  usually  healthy,  and  the  roads  suffi- 
ciently good  to  travel  by  palanquin,  on  horseback,  or  on  foot,  with  bul- 
lock-carts accompanying,  to  carry  the  necessary  stores  of  books,  etc. 


80  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


On  the  14th  of  June,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  arrived  at  Burdwan, 
and  expressed  himself  "  grateful  for  the  quiet,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  successful  labor  on  every  side,"  though  he  painfully 
missed  "  the  intercourse  with  dear  Christian  brethren  in 
Calcutta,  especially  Mr.  Lacroix,  and  one  or  two  others." 
Trials  of  another  order  also  awaited  him ;  but  they  worked 
in  him  "  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness."  His  health, 
too,  suffered,  and  he  says  :  "  Oh !  for  faith  !  I  want  faith,  or 
my  bark  will  soon  sink." 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival,  the  smaller  Mission  House, 
which  had  been  designed  for  his  residence,  was  occupied  by 
the  doctor  of  the  station,  to  whom  it  had  been  let,  as  a  favor, 
until  it  was  needed.  This  gentleman  refused  to  vacate  it, 
and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  compelled  to  take  up  his  abode  in 
one  corner  of  the  low,  damp  building,  which  was  used  for  a 
boys'  school  on  week-days,  and  for  a  place  of  worship  on 
Sundays.  His  bed  and  other  little  articles  of  furniture  were 
placed  behind  a  screen ;  and  in  these  uncomfortable  quarters 
he  studied  by  day  and  reposed  by  night.  He  often  said 
that  this  circumstance  was  not  without  its  use,  as  he  had  to 
read  with  his  pundit,  in  the  midst  of  the  great  uproar  made 
by  above  one  hundred  Bengali  boys,  who  were  being  in- 
structed, for  several  hours  a  day,  in  the  centre  of  the  build- 
ing, which  prepared  him  to  speak  in  a  noisy  crowd  in  the 
bazaar  afterwards.  There  were  no  Venetian  windows,  mere- 
ly wooden  shutters,  and  no  verandahs  to  this  place ;  so  that 
he  was  obliged  either  to  remain  in  darkness  or  to  let  in  the 
sun  and  rain.  He  took  his  meals  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Deer, 
He  was  not  permitted  to  suffer  seriously  in  health  by  this 
hard  discipline,  which  was  really  wonderful,  as  the  water  (it 
being  the  rainy  season)  lay  constantly  around  the  low  build- 
ing, and  sometimes  almost  prevented  his  going  out.  He 
had  been  directed  by  the  Committee,  to  perform  English 
service  for  the  residents  which  he  did  regularly  \v  the  little 


MR.  DEER  REMOVES  FROM  BURDWAN. 


81 


English  chapel  in  the  station,  and  he  received  much  kindness 
and  affectionate  attention  from  them.  He  also  helped  Mr. 
Deer  in  various  ways,  as  long  as  he  remained,  which  was 
but  a  few  months  after  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  joined  the  sta- 
tion. He  left,  at  first,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  but 
finding  much  encouragement  at  Krishnaghur,  where  he  had 
gone,  and  being  afterwards  convinced  that  he  must  go  to 
Europe  with  his  family  in  the  cold  season,  he  did  not  return 
again  ;  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had,  in  about  seven  months  from 
the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Burdwan,  to  fulfill  all  the  duties  in 
connection  with  the  mission.  He  was  "  English  preacher, 
pastor  of  the  native  flock,  superintendent  of  vernacular 
schools,  containing  many  hundreds  of  boys,  and  evangelist  to 
the  heathen !"  Need  we  wonder  to  hear  him  exclaiming, 
"  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  He  calls  it,  as  well  he 
might,  "  a  severe  trial  of  faith."  "  Many  duties,  many 
responsibilities,  and  so  little  feeling  of  energy."  "  My 
misery,"  he  writes,  "  sometimes  almost  weighs  me  down- 
unlil  I  have  poured  out  my  heart  to  Jesus,  with  strong 
crying  and  tears."  Thus  did  he,  in  his  depression,  cry 
mightily  unto  the  Lord,  and  He  heard  him,  and  delivered 
him  from  all  his  fears ;  he  looked  unto  Him  and  was 
lightened.  He  now  proved  the  truth  of  what  he  had  be- 
lieved, and  so  often  expressed,  before  entering  the  field, 
that  the  Lord  was  all-sufficient  to  sustain  him  and  carry 
him  on. 

Towards  the  end  of  August,  we  find  the  following  remarks 
in  his  journal :  "  The  days  hasten  past  in  this  land  of 
strangers,  as  they  did  in  England  and  in  Germany,  and  my 
journal  remains  empty.  I  hope  it  is  no  indication  that  my 
heart  is  so.  No,  I  remember  many  a  precious  hour  of  re- 
freshment from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  My  time  is  spent 
chiefly  with  the  pundit.  It  is  true  I  embrace  every  oppor- 
tunity of  speaking  to  the  poor  people  around  me,  but  have 

4* 


82  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


not,  as  yet,  enough  freedom  in  the  language  to  do  it  very 
effectively.  Some  dear  people  of  God  have  come  to  the 
station,  with  whom  I  enjoy  the  blessing  of  Christian  inter- 
course." During  the  following  month  he  records :  "  I  hope 
my  prayers  for  my  English  flock  are  being  heard ;  the  word 
seems  really  to  have  found  entrance  into  some  hearts."  A 
similar  record  is  made  regarding  Bancoorah,  whither  he 
went  in  October.  The  deep  interest  he  felt  in  the  salvation 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  showed  itself  continu- 
ally in  all  the  beauty  of  Christian  simplicity  and  faithfulness. 
On  one  occasion  he  says :  "  When  I  came  home  I  could  only 

cry  and  entreat  the  Lord  to  have  pity  upon  ,  and  draw 

his  soul  entirely  to  Himself."  He  was  placed  in  a  very 
difficult  position  just  at  this  time,  through  a  circumstance 
that  occurred  in  the  course  of  his  ministerial  duties,  and  his 
friends  were  astonished  at  the  practical  wisdom,  forbearance, 
and  manly  decision  which  marked  the  course  he  took. 
Even  the  individuals  who  suffered  pain  and  mortification, 
could  but  esteem  and  admire  him. 


To  his  brother  G. 

BuRDWAN,  Aug.  10,  1831. 
(  Translation.) — "  Mercy  and  peace  from  the  Lord,  is  my 
salutation  to  you,  dearest  brother.  May  this  blessing, 
which  is  the  earnest  desire  of  a  sincere,  loving,  brotherly 
heart,  abide  upon  you  all,  both  in  your  hearts  and  in  your 
houses  !  I  hope  you  have  received  my  former  letters.  It 
is  now  nearly  a  year  since  I  left  England,  and  as  long  since 
I  have  heard  of  you.  My  heart  yearns  for  tidings  ;  a  letter 
from  home  would  be  more  precious  to  me  than  gold.  My 
spirit  often  takes  wing,  and  alights  in  the  far-distant  dwell- 
ings, where  many  a  loved  one  thinks  of  me,  and  prays  for 
me.    But  we  are  pilgrims,  and  are  hastening  towards  our 


LETTER  TO  HIS  BROTHER. 


83 


true  native  country^  and  each  day  that  passes  brings  us  one 
nearer  to  our  home.  Oh!  when  we  meet  there,  we  shall 
have  much  to  tell  each  other  of,  and  much  to  praise  and 
magnify  the  Lord  for  !  I  have  now  got  over  my  first  hot 
season  in  India,  and  am  surprised  to  think,  how  well  1  have 
been  carried  through.  The  heat  was  indescribable,  and  I 
had  a  low,  close  room  in  Calcutta.  By  the  mercy  of  the 
Lord,  I  am  usually  fresh  and  able  to  labor  ;  and  though,  as 
you  know,  my  constitution  is  not  strong,  it  seems  to  have 
that  pliability  about  it,  which  enables  me  to  bear  this  cli- 
mate well." 

Thus  diligently,  did  he  run  his  course,  through  the  first 
year  of  his  missionary  life.  It  was  a  true  sample  of  his 
whole  career  ;  during  which,  he  fully  acted  upon  the  Apos- 
tle's injunction,  "  Be  not  weary  in  well-doing." 


84  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Baptism  of  eighteen  Converts — Tour  with  Mr.  Alexander — Baptism  in 
a  heathen  village — Extracts  from  Correspondence — Death  of  the 
Rajah  of  Burdwan — Hurricane— Arrival  of  four  Brethren — Enjoy- 
ment of  their  visit — Death  of  a  pious  lady — Christmas — Concludes 
his  second  year  of  Labor. 

1832—1833. 

Another  short  extract  from  the  journal  may  commence 
the  New  Year's  Day  of  1832. 

"  I  will  begin  this  year  leaning  on  my  Beloved,  who  has 
hitherto,  and  will  still  continue  to  lead  me  through  the  de- 
sert, strengthening  me  in  every  good  work  to  do  His  will, 
and  working  in  me  that  which  is  well-pleasing  in  His  sight. 
We  had  divine  service  and  the  communion.  It  was  a  de- 
lightful season  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 
Afterwards  I  baptized  Dr.  Cheek's  babe,  to  whom,  by  his 
own  and  his  wife's  particular  desire,  I  also  became  sponsor." 

He  left  Bancoorah,  quite  overwhelmed  by  the  brotherly 
love  and  attention  he  received  there  from  his  friends.  Mrs. 
Cheek  was  about  to  leave  her  husband  to  accompany  her 
children  to  England.  This  approaching  trial  aroused  his 
tenderest  sympathies. 

During  January,  he  records  the  baptism  of  eighteen  na- 
tive converts,  and  a  visit  to  Culna,  where  he  found  all  going 
on  satisfactorily,  under  Mr.  Alexander,  the  European  cate- 


TOUR  WITH  MR.  ALEXANDER. 


85 


chist,  whom  he  speaks  of  as  a  diligent  and  faithful  laborer, 
anxious  to  bring  souls  to  the  Lord.  He  had  also  learned 
Bengali  very  well,  especially  considering  he  was  a  man  of 
no  previous  education.  On  Sunday  they  had  service,  and 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  preached  and  administered  the  sacrament 
to  the  native  flock.  He  accustomed  himself,  from  the  first, 
to  do  his  best  in  speaking  to  the  people  without  an  interpre- 
ter, and  thus  he  soon  gained  confidence  and  freedom  of  ex- 
pression in  Bengali.  He  made  a  short  missionary  tour, 
with  Mr.  Alexander,  towards  Chinsurah,  and  gives  many 
details  in  his  journal,  of  his  addresses  and  conversations 
with  the  people.  "  Culna  is  a  most  populous  place,"  he 
writes,  "  and  should  have  an  efiective  missionary  staff  at 
work." 

After  coming  to  a  certain  point,  he  continued  his  journey 
down  the  river  in  a  boat ;  and  on  arriving  at  that  part, 
where  Serampore  lies  on  one  side,  and  Barrackpore  on  the 
other,  he  felt  divided  as  to  which  to  choose  for  his  tempor- 
ary quarters.  Serampore,  with  its  venerable  mission  and 
missionaries,  the  first  English  missionaries,  be  it  ever  re- 
membered, who  bore  the  blessed  tidings  of  redemption  to 
the  Indian  shores,  attracted  him  strongly,  as  he  had  long 
wished  to  become  acquainted  with  them ;  and  on  the  other 
hand,  the  beloved  Archdeacon  Corrie  acted  as  a  powerful 
magnet.  He  decided  for  the  latter,  as  he  had  "  much  to 
speak  and  converse  about  with  him,  and  spent  a  truly  plea- 
sant and  blessed  evening  with  the  venerable  man  of  God." 
"  How  refreshing  and  delightful,"  he  adds,  "  is  the  light  of 
grace  emanating  from  true  believers,  and  shedding  its  bright 
beams  on  a  sinful  generation  !  What  riches  the  Lord  can 
put  into  His  own  elect,  to  make  them  vessels  of  mercy  to 
their  fellow-creatures  !" 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  embraced  every  opportunity  of  speaking 
to  the  poor  people  around  him  on  their  eternal  interests. 


86  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


but  sometimes  he  was  aimost  overcome  by  a  sense  of  his 
deficiency  in  the  language ;  yet  we  can  not  wonder  he 
should  not  have  made  more  progress,  but  rather  that  he  had 
"  come  so  far"  in  the  time.  Sometimes  this  caused  his 
path  to  seem  gloomy  and  difficult ;  and  his  evenings,  when 
at  home  in  his  own  house,  were  often  almost  overwhelming- 
ly solitary.  He  had  been  brought  up  as  a  child,  and  moved 
in  riper  years,  among  an  attached  circle  of  relatives ;  and 
was,  by  nature,  of  a  peculiarly  social  disposition.  Once  he 
writes :  "  I  deeply  feel  that  without  full  confidence  in  Jesus, 
I  can  not  go  on.  I  have  no  need  to  ask  for  what  I  shall 
pray  ;  for,  when  I  kneel  down,  my  needs  from  within  and 
without  are  so  great,  that  I  can  not  find  words  to  express 
them."  He  found,  when  left  alone  in  the  mission,  that  his 
ideas  of  order  and  discipline  were  distasteful  to  several  of 
the  native  Christians.  This  caused  him  much  trying  expe- 
rience, "  but,"  he  writes,  "  with  God's  help,  I  hope  to  intro- 
duce, by  degrees,  a  new  order  of  things ;"  and  in  this  he 
finally  succeeded,  though  not  without  many  a  struggle,  the 
most  painful  of  which  was  the  expulsion  of  a  very  gifted 
man,  a  Brahmun  convert,  who  acted  as  head-catechist,  but 
proved  quite  unworthy  of  his  office,  and  had  to  be  dismiss- 
ed, under  very  serious  charges  of  fraud  and  deceit. 

In  the  midst  of  these  various  causes  of  disquietude,  which 
are  such  as  will,  more  or  less,  occur  to  every  missionary, 
he  was  encouraged,  by  the  progress  making  in  the  English 
school,  and  his  spirit  was  refreshed  by  the  return  of  a  sea- 
son he  always  delighted  in.  Passion  Week  and  Easter.  His 
English  and  Bengali  services  on  Good  Friday,  were  "  visi- 
tations of  grace"  to  him,  and  he  "  hoped  to  his  congrega- 
tion also and  on  Saturday,  he  says  :  "  I  could  commit  all 
my  cares  to  the  Saviour  in  believing  confidence,  especially 
all  concerning  the  mission,  and  was  powerfully  comforted 
and  made  to  feel  I  should  be  helped  on.    I  went,  with  ]oy 


PERSECUTION. 


87 


and  strength,  to  my  duties  on  Easter  Sunday,  to  deliver  a 
testimonv  of  the  risen  Saviour,  and  to  celebrate  his  dying 
love  with  my  people." 

He  also  relates,  soon  after,  the  particulars  of  a  visit  he 
made  to  baptize  a  family  in  a  neighboring  village.  On  his 
arrival  at  the  place,  with  some  of  his  catechists,  he  "  found 
the  females  of  the  family  had  not  yet  gained  courage  to 
come  forward  to  receive  the  ordinance ;  so  he  decided  on 
baptizing  the  man  alone,  and  chose  for  the  purpose,  an  open 
place  just  before  a  Shiva  temple."'  The  people  **  formed  a 
circle  around,''  and  then  all  sang  a  hymn,"  after  which  the 
baptismal  service  was  read,  and  the  individual  received  into 
the  flock  of  Christ's  Church,  in  the  presence  of  a  wondering 
multitude."  The  catechist  read  1  Peter  1,  on  which  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  addressed  the  assembly,  among  whom  were 
several  Brahmuns,  and  "  they  seemed  to  feel  the  power  of 
the  truth."  All  appeared  to  pass  off  well  in  this  first  pub- 
lic baptism  in  a  heathen  village,  and  he  returned  home 
much  encouraged."  The  Christians  spent  the  day  with  their 
new  brother,  and  took  leave  of  him  at  4  p.m..  and  proceeded, 
twelve  in  number,  to  the  next  village,  where  they  ''sat  down 
mider  a  tree  to  sing  a  hymn."  "  A  crowd  gathered  round 
them,  and,  when  the  baptism  was  spoken  of,  they  were  ac- 
cused of  cruelty  in  coming  to  take  away  the  people's  caste  ; 
then  followed  threats,  but  as  they  were  defenseless,  they 
felt  it  best  to  remain  quiet."  "Some  of  the  men  then 
rushed  forward,  threw  down  four  of  them,  and  beat  them 
unmercifully,  after  which  they  shut  them  up."  Two  of 
the  others  managed  to  get  away,  and  hastened  home  to  tell 
me."  "  I  felt  it  necessary  to  complain  to  the  magistrate,  as 
the  poor  men  were  held  in  durance ;  had  they  merely  '  beaten 
them  and  let  them  go,'  I  should  not  have  noticed  it.  and  the 
Christians  would  have  borne  it  'joyfully,'  as  a  mai*k  of  vic- 
tory over  Satan's  kingdom,  for  which  he  vented  his  rage 


88  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

upon  them.  The  magistrate  dispatched  a  body  of  police 
immediately,  who  arrived  in  the  village  at  midnight,  libe- 
rated the  prisoners,  and  arrested  the  offenders,  who  were 
suitably  chastised."  "  I  visited  them  while  in  confinement, 
and  brought  their  sin  home  to  them,  and  when  they  seemed 
humbled  and  penitent,  interceded  for  their  release." 
To  one  of  his  brothers,  he  writes  : 

{^Translation.) — "I  would  not  give  up  my  glorious  calling 
for  all  the  riches  of  the  world ;  but  I  rejoice  from  my  inner- 
most soul,  that  Jesus  has,  by  his  Spirit,  anointed  me  to 
preach  the  Gospel  among  the  heathen.  And  as  we  enjoy 
the  greatest  of  all  honors,  my  dear  brother,  we  must  expect 
and  be  content  to  bear  a  proportionate  degree  of  suffering 
and  trial.  I  am  permitted  to  see  some  pleasing  tokens  of 
success,  and  some  blessed  fruits  of  my  labor  are  now  and 
then  gathering  in.  I  am  amongst  very  dear  and  kind  friends, 
and  find  the  truth  of  our  Lord's  promise,  that  He  will  restore 
to  us  a  hundredfold,  in  return  for  whatever  we  leave  for 
Him." 

April  29ih.  To-day  I  celebrate  my  thirtieth  birthday. 
Goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me.  A  pleasant  lot  and 
a  goodly  heritage,  have  I  found  in  India.  Oh !  may  the  com- 
ing days  of  my  pilgrimage  be  spent,  solely  to  the  praise  of 
my  ever-glorious  Redeemer !" 

In  June,  he  had  to  part  with  his  valued  schoolmaster^  Mr. 
Reynolds,  who  was  disabled  by  sickness.  "  Again,"  he 
remarks,  "  I  am  called  on  to  stand  alone,  and  gather  in  the 
ears  in  my  harvest-field.  Sometimes  one  is  ready  to  faint 
under  the  burden  ;  but  the  greatest  evil  is  that  from  within, 
unbelief,  selfishness,  indolence.  Ah !  what  an  army  of 
unclean  things  are  concealed  in  one's  chambers  of  imagery  ! 
Would  that  I  could  love  more,  suffer  more,  struggle  more  ! 
In  my  hours  of  relaxation,  I  read  the  Life  of  Martyn.  When 
I  contemplate  the  faithfulness  and  humility  of  this  hero  in 


IN  LABORS  ABUNDANT. 


89 


the  faith,  and  perceive  how  he  began,  and  continued,  and 
persevered  to  the  end,  I  feel  ashamed  of  my  supineness  and 
half-earnestness.  I  live,  but  not  wholly  and  solely  for  Jesus. 
The  salvation  of  the  poor  heathen  is  not  so  much  an  object 
of  concern  to  me,  as  it  ought  to  be.  I  am  cold  and  dull  in 
pleading  for  them  before  the  face  of  the  Lord.  O  Jesus  ! 
have  mercy  on  me !  Awaken  and  arouse  me,  that  I  may 
run  without  weariness,  and  labor  as  long  as  it  is  called 
to-day." 

Though  Mr.  Weitbrecht  thus  complains,  we  find  his  journal 
full  of  details  of  engagements,  preachings,  conversations,  and 
every  means  he  could  devise  to  assault  "Satan  in  his  strong 
holds."  Once,  after  preaching,  he  says:  "I  am  quite  over- 
come with  pity  and  grief  for  these  poor  people.  My  heart 
enlarges  with  love  towards  them,  and  I  would  fain  take  them 
up  in  my  arms,  and  lay  them  in  the  bosom  of  Jesus.  Extend 
thy  mighty  arm,  O  Lord  !  and  burst  the  fetters  with  which 
they  are  bound !" 

Just  at  this  time,  the  daughter  of  the  Rajah  of  Burdwan 
wrote  to  one  of  the  ladies  in  the  station,  telling  her  that  she 
had  heard  with  pleasure,  of  the  school  for  Hindu  females, 
and  of  the  progress  they  had  made  in  knowledge,  and  beg- 
ging permission  to  give  a  contribution  towards  this  benevo- 
lent object.  She  was  of  course  invited  to  give  as  much  as 
she  liked. 

Soon  after  we  find  him  very  busy  in  dispensing  the  Word 
of  Life  at  the  festival  of  Juggernath.  Two  young  men  were 
particularly  struck  by  his  address,  and  came  to  his  house  for 
farther  instruction.  A  little  boy,  who  attended  one  of  his 
schools,  came  up  to  him  as  he  stood  near  the  vast  crowd, 
and  said :  "  Look,  Sahib,  what  a  multitude !  Many  are  called, 
but  few  chosen."  On  being  asked  if  he  were  one  of  the 
chosen  ?  he  replied :  "  I  hope  to  become  one  through  God's 
mercy."    The  following  month  he  baptized  six  persons, 


90  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


whom  he  had  been  preparing  for  some  time.  He  preached 
on  the  words  of  Peter  to  Cornelius,  when  he  received  the 
first  heathen  family  into  the  fold  of  Christ.  "  My  heart 
warmed,"  he  writes,  "  as  I  spoke,  and  the  word  seemed  to 
find  ample  entrance.  I  endeavored  to  represent  Jesus  to 
my  congregation,  in  all  His  love  and  loveliness,  and  to  invite 
them  to  return  it  to  Him.  I  have  also  a  young  Mussulman 
inquirer,  about  twenty-six  years  old,  of  good  family.  He 
speaks  Persian,  Hindustani,  and  Bengali.  May  he  learn 
the  language  of  Canaan  !"  He  soon  after  baptized  him. 
He  thus  wrote  to  one  of  his  brothers  in  Germany : 
( Translation) — "  The  Lord  multiplies  blessings  towards 
me,  and  helps  me  to  feel,  that  it  is  his  good  pleasure  I  should 
go  on  to  labor  here.  I  am  now  fully  initiated  in  the  differ- 
ent departments  of  missionary  labor,  and  have  attained  that 
knowledge  of  the  language,  which  enables  me  to  preach  the 
Word  of  Life  with  some  degree  of  facility.  I  am  now 
studying  Sanscrit ;  for  we  must  fetch  our  weapons  of  war 
from  the  camp  of  the  Philistines.  No  language  has  ever 
cost  me  so  much  labor  and  trouble  as  this.  In  this  dark 
land,  we  resemble  wanderers  in  a  gloomy  night,  who  grope 
about  to  waken  the  slumbering.  We  can  see  that  darkness 
covereth  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people.  Here 
and  there  light  seems  to  dawn,  but  it  is  only  a  faint  glim- 
mering. Who  can  extirpate  the  deep-rooted  errors  of  Hin- 
duism, if  the  Lord  look  not  down  in  pity  !  A  beginning  is 
however  made ;  and  we  should  wait,  and  pray,  and  labor  on, 
remembering  the  promises.  Greatly  have  I  to  mourn,  that 
I  can  not  feel  these  poor  people  so  near  my  heart  as  I  desire. 
If  I  did  not  know  whose  blood  can  wash  away  sin,  I  should 
be  deeply  dejected.  In  this  hot,  depressing  climate,  the 
energy  seems  to  leave  me,  and  the  mind  gets  deadened, 
which  causes  me  much  grief.  The  only  thing  is,  to  keep  the 
prize  in  view.    The  crown  is  well  worth  the  cross.  By 


LONELINESS. 


91 


degrees  we  shall  become  practised  soldiers,  and,  as  we 
near  the  goal,  our  prospects  will  brighten  and  our  steps 
quicken." 

To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodruffe,  one  of  the  Secretaries,  he 
writes :  "  I  am  thankful  to  tell  you,  I  am  fully  understood 
by  the  Hindus.  I  was  advised  to  strive  very  earnestly  to 
obtain  a  good  pronunciation  of  Bengali,  in  the  first  instance, 
as  many  missionaries  have  failed  to  do  this,  and  it  has  been 
a  great  barrier  to  their  future  usefulness.  I  therefore  devoted 
a  few  months,  almost  entirely,  to  that  point.  At  Burdwan, 
where  we  live  in  the  midst  of  a  crowded  population,  with 
numbers  of  learned  Brahmuns  interspersed,  we  have  every 
opportunity  of  acquiring  the  idiom  of  the  language ;  and,  by 
daily  conversation,  we  get  familiar  with  their  ideas,  customs, 
and  prejudices.  Brother  Deer  has  left  me,  and  I  was  six 
months  quite  alone.  In  this  dreary  wilderness  and  spiritu- 
ally benighted  land,  this  ought  never  to  be  the  case.  The 
most  pious  and  strong  in  faith  will  occasionally  despond 
under  such  circumstances.  I  have  now  brother  Kruckeberg 
with  me  for  a  season,  and  I  am  much  encouraged  by  Christ- 
ian friends.  The  Lord  opens  the  hearts  of  the  civil  and 
military  authorities,  to  assist  us  in  His  work  wonderfully 
and  liberally. 

"  The  want  of  a  pious  and  devoted  lady  is  deeply  felt  in 
our  mission  at  Burdwan.  All  who  are  acquainted  with 
things  here,  feel  this.  There  are  very  few  persons  in  India 
calculated  to  become  useful  missionaries'  wives;  and  though 
the  Committee  would,  I  believe,  sanction  a  missionary 
returning  that  he  might  marry,  after  he  has  learned  the  Ian 
guage,  few  devoted  men  would  contemplate  such  a  step,  unless 
their  health  required  a  change.  I  confess  I  should  shrink 
from  deserting  my  work  for  a  year  or  two,  during  which,  I 
might  become  a  blessing  to  many  an  immortal  soul.  We 
must  remember  Abraham's  motto,  Jehovah-jireh ;  and  as 


92  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ours  is  a  work  of  faith  it  must  be  exercised  in  all  that  con. 
cerns  us.    Remember  me  in  your  prayers." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  now  several  schools  at  Bancoorah, 
containing  four  hundred  and  fifty  boys,  and  forty-five  girls  ; 
and  he  adopted  the  same  plan  here  as  at  Burdwan,  of  going 
every  morning  to  examine  one,  and  preaching  afterwards  to  the 
crowd,  whom  his  presence  attracted  around  the  school-house. 
He  describes  a  singular  raft  on  which  he  crossed  the  river 
one  day,  to  reach  one  of  his  schools.  It  was  made  of  solah, 
a  buoyant  substance,  which  floats  on  the  water  somewhat  as 
cork  does.  A  piece  of  this  is  strengthened  by  thin  slips  of 
bamboo  tied  across  it,  and  then  the  traveller  sits  upon  it  in 
Turkish  or  Oriental  fashion.  The  Hindus,  who  are  all  good 
swimmers,  push  it  across  the  stream  as  they  swim  behind  it. 
Sometimes  if  the  current  is  very  strong,  the  primitive  raft  is 
still  farther  strengthened,  by  attaching  to  it  a  few  light  earthen 
vessels,  which  are  also  Yery,  buoyant  when  empty. 

His  journal  contains  full  accounts  of  the  conversations  he 
held,  and  the  addresses  he  gave  to  his  heathen  auditors ; 
and  show  how  ready  he  had  become  in  his  manner  of  deal- 
ing with  them.  He  also  established  schools  at  intermediate 
places,  between  Burdwan  and  Bancoorah,  at  which  he  halted 
as  he  went  to  and  fro  ;  and  he  obtained  support  for  all  these 
local  efforts,  from  benevolent  friends  in  the  different  lo- 
calities. 

On  returning  to  Burdwan  from  one  of  these  excursions 
he  had  literally  "  to  march  through  deep  waters,"  and,  on 
reaching  the  shores  of  the  Damudah,  he  was  "  thankful  to 
step  into  a  boat  crowded  with  some  fifty  Hindus."  When 
in  the  midst  of  the  stream,  which  is,  when  full,  extremely 
rapid,  some  of  the  people  were  alarmed,  and  he  was  himself 
apprehensive  of  danger.  He  therefore  took  occasion  to  call 
their  attention  to  more  important  matters,  and  asked  them 
"  whether,  in  case  they  should  be  drowned,  they  had  hope 


PREACHES  TO  A  HINDU  AUDIENCE. 


93 


for  eternity.  Some  of  the  better  sort  said  they  had,"  and 
this  gave  him  a  good  opportunity  to  "  dilate  on  the  nature  and 
necessity  of  a  true  preparation  for  death,  and  to  commend 
Christ  to  their  acceptance,  as  the  boat  was  wafted  across 
the  current." 

One  day,  soon  afterwards,  he  preached  to  a  numerous 
Hindu  audience  on  the  words  of  the  Saviour,  "  Let  not  your 
hearts  be  troubled,"  etc. ;  one  of  his  hearers  feelingly  ex- 
claimed :  "  Sir,  All  you  say  is  true ;  we  have  no  rest  for'our 
souls,  or  hope  of  eternal  life  !"  "  They  are,  indeed,"  he  adds, 
"  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd.  Surely  their  misery  will 
touch  the  loving,  tender  heart  of  our  great  High-Priest,  and 
lead  Him  to  manifest  His  saving  power.  If  He  could  feed 
thousands  with  a  few  loaves  of  earthly  bread  when  required, 
may  I  not  hope  it  will  please  Him  to  feed  these  starving 
souls  with  heavenly  bread,  through  my  weak  and  feeble 
efforts  r 

About  this  time  the  Rajah  of  Burdwan  died,  leaving  the 
enormous  sum  of  twenty  millions  of  rupees  in  ready  cash ; 
several  vaults  were  filled  with  silver  and  gold.  "  When  he 
felt  his  end  approaching,  he  desired  to  be  carried  to  Culna, 
that  he  might  die  in  sight  of  the  sacred  river,  on  the  vir- 
tue of  which  he  placed  all  his  hope  of  salvation."  Mr. 
Deer  had  once  made  an  effort  to  see  him,  but  when  he  at- 
tempted to  introduce  Christianity,  he  told  him  he  would 
"not  detain  him  longer."  "Thus  he  went  down  to  the 
grave,  a  practical  exemplification  of  the  rich  man  in  the 
parable." 

In  October,  a  dreadful  hurricane  occurred,  which  did  much 
injury  to  the  Christians'  houses,  and  uprooted  numbers  of 
trees.  It  however  spent  its  fury  chiefly  on  the  river,  on 
which  immense  loss  of  life  and  property  occurred.  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  felt  his  trial  deeply  on  beholding  the  scene  of 
desolation  which  the  compound  presented  on  the  following 


94  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


day.  It  involved  him  in  much  trouble  and  expense,  and 
his  time  was  occupied  in  repairing  damages ;  but  he  was 
soon  out  again,  and  preaching  here  and  there,  with  increased 
freedom  of  utterance.  "  Oh  !"  he  exclaims,  "  how  I  should 
like  to  give  the  Saviour,  with  his  whole  heavenly  kingdom, 
to  these  poor  Hindus !  Some  people  before  whose  dwell- 
ings we  came,  welcomed  us  readily,  and  gave  us  seats,  and 
mats  for  our  feet.  We  read  to  them  the  14th  of  John,  as 
they  sat  around  us,  and  I  explained  it.  They  begged  us  to 
return  again  and  preach  to  them  whenever  we  could." 

On  being  detained  from  public  service  by  the  weather, 
his  brother  Kruckeberg,  himself,  and  Mr.  Samuel,  a  Jewish 
missionary,  read  Ezekiel  33,  refreshing  and  encouraging 
themselves,  on  the  important  instruction  the  Lord  gives  in 
that  chapter  to  the  watchmen  in  Zion.  "  I  felt,"  he  remarks, 
"  in  that  message,  a  fresh  call  for  faithfulness  and  perseve- 
rance in  our  work." 

His  friend,  Mr.  Deal  try,  writes  : 

"  I  would,  my  dear  Weitbrecht,  you  could  be  at  Calcutta, 
without  prejudice  to  our  friends  at  Burdwan.  I  am  sure 
the  field  here  is  more  promising,  more  ripe  for  the  sickle  of 
the  laborer  than  anywhere  else  in  India,  and  our  van  should 
be  stationed  here,  the  choicest  of  our  noble  body  of  mission- 
aries. The  battle  is  to  be  fought  here  first  most  briskly, 
depend  upon  it.  The  Dissenters  are  active ;  and  we  should 
have  men  to  show  them  that  we  are,  at  least,  not  behind 
them  in  our  labors  of  love.  But  you  are  well  and  actively 
engaged,  and  the  Lord  bless  you  in  your  labors.  Oh! 
my  friend,  an  angel  might  envy  your  employment !  It  is, 
I  am  sure,  what  he  would  engage  in,  if  he  were  permitted  to 
assume  our  nature.  Labor  on  in  simplicity,  in  humility, 
in  dependence  upon  His  blessing,  who  alone  can  give  you 
success  to  your  labors.  I  hope  you  will  be  permitted  to 
see  abundant  fruit,  though  the  man  of  God  is  not  to  reap  ac- 


BINDING  UN  THE  BROKEN-HEATED. 


95 


cording  to  his  success,  but  according  to  his  labor.  Your 
letter  has  truly  been  a  blessing  to  me.  We  all  here  unite 
in  affectionate  regards  to  you.  Your  very  affectionate 
brother,  T.  Dealtry." 

The  remarks  in  the  above  letter  are  well  worthy  of  con- 
sideration even  now,  for  there  is  much  truth  in  them.  The 
Church  Missionary  Society  have  never  yet  been  adequately 
represented  in  Calcutta,  and  are  not  so  at  the  present  day  ; 
indeed,  just  at  this  time,  their  mission  there  is  at  a  very 
low  ebb.  Would  that  the  Lord  would  work  by  His  Spirit, 
on  the  hearts  of  some  who  read  this  record,  and  lead  them 
to  offer  themselves  for  this  important  field,  where  the  labor- 
ers connected  with  other  societies  are  meeting  with  great 
and  glorious  success. 

On  visiting  one  of  his  schools,  he  found  the  teacher  of  it, 
a  good  and  diligent  man,  had  just  died  of  cholera.  The  aged 
father  and  three  brothers  of  the  deceased  came  weeping 
around  him,  bringing  two  infants  who  were  left  orphans. 
He  opened  the  Bible  and  read  1  Peter  1,  and  spoke  on  the 
frailty  of  man  ;  the  privileges  of  the  believer  on  Christ  on 
earth,  and  the  precious  inheritance  reserved  for  him  in 
heaven  ;  and  he  left  the  spot  with  prayer,  that  this  affecting 
occasion  might  serve  to  awaken  some  souls  from  the  death- 
sleep  of  sin.  The  same  evening,  he  had  a  meeting  with  his 
native  congregation,  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper  ;  and 
on  the  following  day,  Sunday,  a  blessed  season  in  remember- 
ing the  dying  love  of  the  Saviour.  In  the  evening  he  preach- 
ed on  Rev.  1:7,"  Behold,  the  Lord  cometh,"  and  felt  His 
grace  present. 

Soon  after  this,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  called  on  to  comfort 
and  sympathize  with  some  pious  members  of  his  English 
flock.  His  zealous  friend.  Captain  Vetch,  lost  a  little  one. 
"  I  went,"  he  writes,  "  to  perform  the  funeral  service,  and 


96  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRKCHT. 

when  I  reached  the  house  I  prayed  with  the  sorrowing  pa- 
rents over  the  open  coffin  of  their  sleeping  babe.  We  then 
closed  it,  and  conveyed  the  precious  remains  to  their  place  of 
repose,  till  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  Another  be- 
loved member  of  my  flock  is  seriously  ill,  and  my  mind  is 
filled  with  solemnity."  On  the  following  Sunday,  he  preach- 
ed from  Rev.  7  :  13,  with  a  view  to  bind  up  the  broken- 
hearted amongst  his  flock.  "  These  are  they  which  came  out 
of  great  tribulation." 

The  cooler  season  was  now  approaching,  and  he  was  able 
to  prosecute  his  labors  with  renewed  ardor.  He  describes 
his  private  visits  to  respectable  native  gentlemen,  and  their 
results ;  and  his  zealous  efforts  among  the  deluded  votaries 
of  idolatry,  at  their  grand  annual  festivals,  which  were  held 
at  this  period.  It  was  the  first  occasion  of  the  kind  at  which 
he  had  been  able  to  speak  fluently  ;  and  though,  as  he  then 
and  afterwards  found,  such  seasons  are  not  the  best  for 
gaining  a  hearing,  as  the  people  are  excited  and  filled,  as  it 
were,  with  Satanic  influence,  yet  he  was  thankful  to  be  able 
to  make  the  attempt. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  Kali-poojah,  he  describes  the 
crowd  "giving  way  to  revelling  and  the  wildest  extrava- 
gance, parading  the  streets  and  highways  with  fanatical 
pride  and  pomp,  praising  the  virtues  of  their  bloodthirsty 
and  horrid  goddess."  He  tried  to  gain  a  hearing,  as  he 
stood  before  a  monstrous  and  disgusting  image  of  this  popu- 
lar deity,  but  "  an  old  Brahmun,  with  bloodshot  eyes,"  abus- 
ed him  "  so  vehemently,"  that  he  was  "  compelled  to  be 
silent."  On  the  following  day  he  made  a  similar  attempt  in  an- 
other village,  and  witnessed  the  ceremony  of  the  worshippers 
bringing  their  offerings  to  Kali ;  they  consisted  of  rice,  fruit, 
flowers,  honey,  and  other  articles.  Here  he  met  with  more 
courtesy,  and  induced  the  priest  to  listen  to  "  his  conversa- 
tion with  some  attention." 


JOY   TEMPERED   BY  SORROW. 


97 


The  time  for  his  periodical  visit  to  Culna  again  arrived, 
and  he  "  left  home  under  great  depression,  which  lasted 
many  days."  While  there,  he  baptized  a  Mussulman,  one 
of  the  school-teachers,  whose  religious  knowledge  and  gene- 
ral character  gave  him  encouragement.  His  usual  duties 
being  performed,  he  proceeded,  with  Mr.  Alexander,  on  a 
little  tour  towards  Krishnaghur,  where  they  found  Mr.  Deer 
continuing  to  feel  encouragement  in  the  opening  prospects 
of  that  mission.  The  Society  was  so  convinced  that  it  was 
a  field  whitening  to  the  harvest,  that,  on  Mr.  Deer's  depar- 
ture, they  stationed  a  newly-arrived  missionary,  Mr.  Haber 
]in,  there,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Kruckeberg,  who  has  labor- 
ed in  that  sphere  (with  some  interruption  from  bad  health) 
with  success  and  blessing,  to  the  present  time. 

On  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  return  to  Burdwan,  another  annual 
festival,  the  Kartik-poojah,  was  at  hand  ;  and  he  renewed  his 
labors  in  the  villages.  He  visited  one,  inhabited  by  the 
carpenters  who  were  engaged  in  the  fabrication  of  this  idol, 
and,  on  seeing  a  man  just  putting  a  finishing-stroke  to  his 
work,  he  entered  into  conversation  with  him.  He  could 
give  no  reason  for  his  worship,  but  that  he  received  it  by 
tradition  from  his  fathers ;  and  he  smiled  when  asked,  if  he 
really  believed  that  a  youth  sitting  on  a  peacock  (the  way 
in  which  Kartik  is  represented)  was  a  fit  representation  of 
the  great  Creator,  and  said,  the  Christian  worship  might  be 
better,  but  that  as  they  were  of  a  different  color,  and  of  little 
understanding,  they  wanted  to  have  a  visible  emblem  of 
their  God. 

Some  brethren  who  had  been  expected  had  now  reached 
Calcutta,  and,  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  great  joy,  it  was  arranged 
by  the  Committee,  that  they  should  all  four  proceed  to 
Burdwan,  and  stay  with  him  a  few  days,  till  the  period  of 
their  ordination  arrived,  to  see  him  at  work,  and  to  be  en- 
couraged by  his  advice  and  experience.    He  welcomed  them 


98  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT, 

with  delight,  and  prayed,  "  that  the  Lord  might  bless  their 
being  together."  "  We  had,"  he  writes,  "  so  much  to  relate 
to,  and  so  much  to  hear  from  each  other,  that  I  was  carried 
back  for  a  while,  to  the  scenes  of  my  childhood  and  youth. 
The  following  day  I  baptized  four  children,  and  preached 
with  inward  joy.  A  most  refreshing  letter  from  dear  In- 
spector Blumhardt  has  added  to  my  comfort  and  encourage- 
ment.   This  was  a  cheering  day,  indeed." 

He  accompanied  his  brethren  to  his  various  schools  and 
preaching-places ;  and  they  were  delighted  and  encouraged 
by  the  progress  he  had  made.  This  joy  was,  however, 
tempered  by  sorrow ;  for  two  days  after,  "  the  most  beloved 
and  esteemed  member  of"  his  "little  English  congregation 
entered  into  her  eternal  rest."  "  She  had  been  ill  some 
weeks,  and  died  in  much  peace."  She  was  one  of  the  pre- 
cious souls  who,  during  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  ministry,  "  had 
been  guided  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  and  had  found  in  Him 
a  Saviour."  Her  mind  had  been,  first,  deeply  touched  by 
an  awakening  sermon  from  Mr.  Dealtry.  On  the  following 
Sunday  Mr.  Weitbrecht  "  preached  her  funeral  sermon,  from 
the  words  of  Christ,  '  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life.' " 
From  the  same  lips  and  the  same  pulpit,  the  deceased  had 
often  been  refreshed  with  the  water  of  life.  "  During  the 
last  seven  months  of  her  life,  she  had  devoted  her  whole  at- 
tention to  the  girls'  school,  in  which  she  had  always  taken 
an  interest,  but  this  had  increased  with  her  opening  percep- 
tions of  spiritual  things,  and  she  had  visited  it  almost  daily," 
so  as  to  attract  the  notice  of  a  Hindu  lady  of  rank  as  has 
been  already  mentioned.*  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  received 
the  kindest  and  most  affectionate  attention,  both  from  her- 
self and  her  husband,  and  had  often  been  cheered  on  liis 
lonely  pilgrimage,  by  spending  an  evening  in  their  society. 
Thus  does  the  Lord  lay  aside,  and  remove  the  instruments 


*  See  page  89 


CHRISTMAS  AT  BURDWAN. 


99 


which  seem  to  the  eye  of  man  most  needed.  The  mission- 
ary has  to  experience  this  continually,  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
was  often  called  on  to  do  so,  both  with  regard  to  European 
friends  and  native  helpers. 

On  his  next  visit  to  Bancoorah,  his  schools  had  increased, 
and  all  his  prospects  seemed  fair.  He  had  much  to  cheer 
him  among  the  Europeans  also,  who  manifested  increasing 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  "  grew  in  grace."  He 
met  with  the  son  of  a  pious  lady  whose  acquaintance  he  had 
made  in  Devonshire,  and  who  had  charged  him,  at  that  time, 
to  be  faithful  to  the  souls  of  her  children,  should  they  be 
brought  before  his  notice  in  India. 

He  had  noted  this  as  a  "  solemn  commission  intrusted"  to 
him,  and  did  all  he  could,  "  by  entreaty  and  encouragement, 
to  induce  this  wandering  sheep,"  for  such  he  was  by  his  own 
confession,  "  to  follow  the  example  of  the  prodigal  son,  and 
return  to  the  Father,  who  had  thus,  in  His  gracious  provi- 
dence, met  him  with  an  invitation  of  love  and  mercy,  in  the 
jungles  of  Bengal."  He  gained  his  heart  by  his  tender, 
winning  manner,  and  obtained  a  "promise  of  correspondence," 
which  was  not  well  kept,  though  he  did  hear  from  him  occa- 
sionally. The  result  he  had  to  leave  with  Him,  who  does 
not  eventually  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  prayers  of  a  believing 
mother. 

The  brethren  at  the  mission-house,  now  six  in  number, 
celebrated  a  delightful  Christmas.  Mr.  Weitbrecht "  preach- 
ed to  the  native  Christians,  with  freedom  and  power,  on  the 
joy  of  the  angels  and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  caused  by 
the  birth  of  our  Saviour."  "Mr.  Haberlin  addressed  the 
English  congregation  from  a  similar  subject,"  and  the  breth- 
ren commenced  the  solemn  service,  by  chanting  in  full 
chorus,  "  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  Father."  Captain  Vetch 
had  also  composed  a  beautiful  Christmas  hymn,  to  suit  one 
of  the  most  solemn  German  tunes ;  and  this  followed  before 


100         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAME^  WEIliBRECHT. 

the  sermon.  After  it,  the  little  band  of  believers  united 
with  them  in  celebrating  the  communion,  and  experienced 
in  their  own  hearts  a  portion  of  a  joy,  similar  to  that  of 
which  they  had  been  hearing.  A  few  days  later,  his  breth- 
ren left  him,  and  he  concluded  his  journal  of  this  year,  by 
a  summary  of  the  great  and  wonderful  mercies  he  had  re- 
ceived from  his  Lord,  who  had  so  graciously  assisted  him 
through  the  arduous  and  difficult  beginning  of  his  missionary 
course.  He  traces  all  his  strength  for  duty,  and  all  his  suc- 
cess to  the  help  and  blessing  of  his  heavenly  Father ;  and 
renews  his  prayers  and  his  vows  for  future  aid  and  consecra- 
tion, under  six  heads  :  1.  For  troubles,  give  faith  and  hope. 
2.  For  discouragement,  patience  and  perseverance.  3.  For 
the  poor  heathen,  love  and  pity.  4.  For  private  devotion, 
humility  and  confidence.  5.  For  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
divine  unction.  6.  In  combats,  victory,  through  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  Word  of  God. 


ATTEMPT  TO  POISON  A  CONVERT  BY  HIS  BROTHER.  101 


CHAPTER  V. 

Attempt  to  Poison  a  Convert  hj  his  Brother — Farewell  to  his  Brethren — 
Itinerant  Labors — Joined  by  Mr.  Lincke — Introduction  to  Serampore 
— Bishop  Wnson — Mr.  Duff's  school — ^Letters — ^Visit  to  the  Rajah — 
Building  Enghsh  school-house — Becomes  tutor  to  the  Rajah — Shock 
of  an  Earthquake — Visits  Beerbhoom — Young  Rajah  Installed — ^Visit 
to  Calcutta — Invitation  to  settle  there. 

1833—1834. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  began  this  year  again,  alone  in  his 
labors,  and  felt  his  solitary  position  the  more,  from  the  con- 
trast to  his  late  enjoyments,  but  "  strengthened  himself," 
like  David,  "in  the  Lord  his  God."  He  buckled  on  his 
armor,  and  prepared  afresh  for  the  conflict,  beseeching 
Jesus,  the  Captain  of  our  salvation,  to  go  before  him. 
"  Come  what  may,"  he  writes,  "  I  can  not  perish ;  for  I  have 
Him  for  my  Guide,  my  Counsellor,  and  Friend."  "My 
heart  is  elevated  in  contemplating  His  sovereignty.  He 
reigns,  and  I  lay  all  my  hopes  and  desires,  in  full  confidence, 
at  the  foot  of  His  throne." 

On  the  3d,  he  was  much  distressed  at  an  attempt  which 
was  made  to  poison  a  Mussulman  convert  by  his  own 
brother,  who  sent  him  a  present  of  milk,  with  a  friendly 
message.  The  man  was  suspicious  of  his  relative's  sincerity, 
as  he  had  manifested  great  hatred  towards  him  from  the 
time  of  his  baptism ;  and  he  thought  it  prudent  to  try  the 


102         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

milk  upon  his  cat,  which  he  did,  and  the  animal  died  almost 
immediately.  His  mother,  in  her  alarm,  entreated  him  to 
take  refuge  with  the  missionary,  as  she  feared  a  renewal  of 
the  attempt  in  another  form ;  and  he  stopped  with  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  for  about  a  fortnight,  during  which  time  he 
nursed  him  through  a  high  fever,  caused  by  the  agitation  of 
his  mind.  Thus  had  the  poor  convert  to  suffer  from  the 
bigotry  and  malice  of  his  besotted  relatives ;  and  many  a 
similar  instance  has  occurred,  where  they  have  not  escaped 
so  well. 

On  the  12th,  two  of  the  brethren,  Leupolt  and  Knorpp, 
returned  to  Burdwan,  and  again  spent  a  few  days  there,  be- 
fore proceeding  to  Benares,  the  station  to  which  they  were 
appointed.  When  they  left,  he  accompanied  them ;  and  they 
walked  together  for  some  distance  to  a  spot,  to  which  their 
palanquins  had  been  sent  forward.  "  The  sun  was  just  set- 
ting," he  writes,  "when  we  renewed  to  each  other  our  reso- 
lutions to  serve  the  Lord  with  faithfulness  and  diligence,  and, 
if  it  pleased  Him  to  bless  our  labors,  to  win  souls  for 
His  kingdom."  "The  tie  of  brotherly  love  was  more 
firmly  knit."  "  Our  vows  were  solemn,  and  we  were  all  af- 
fected, seeming  to  realize  the  presence  of  angels  with  us, 
under  the  lengthening  shadow  of  the  trees.  At  the  entrance 
to  the  high  road,  we  separated. " 

They  had  been  much  attached  to  each  other  at  Basle ;  they 
had  now  met  and  renewed  their  brotherly  communion  in 
the  idolatrous  land  which  was  to  be  their  future  home,  and, 
in  all  probability,  the  place  of  their  sepulchre.  It  has  al- 
ready proved  so  to  two  of  them ;  the  third  is  still  fighting 
valiantly  at  his  post  of  labor.  The  devoted  course  they  all 
ran,  manifested  that  they  not  only  "  realized  the  presence 
of  angels"  on  this  occasion,  but  that  of  the  "  great  Angel 
of  the  covenant"  continued  with  them,  all  their  journey 
through. 


ITINERANT  LABOR. 


103 


Soon  after  this,  we  find  Mr.  Weitbrecht  busy  among  a 
crowd  of  ten  thousand  Hindus,  congregated  at  an  annual  fair, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Damudah,  where  he  preached  and  dis- 
tributed tracts,  in  company  with  his  catechists.  A  day  or 
two  later,  he  had  letters  from  Calcutta,  informing  him  that 
the  Society  must  give  up  all  future  support  of  schools.  It 
had  before  been  intimated  to  him,  that  he  would  be  wel- 
comed by  the  Committee  in  Calcutta ;  but  he  had  now  be- 
come attached  to  Burdwan,  and  the  field  of  labor  in  connection 
with  it,  and  he  could  not  contemplate  a  change  without  pain. 
He  applied  at  once  to  his  friends  around  him  for  their  increased 
support,  which  they  willingly  granted,  on  condition  that 
he  remained.  This  made  his  duty  to  continue  at  his  present 
post  clear,  and  the  Committee  acquiescing  in  his  view,  it 
was  thus  decided. 

With  the  exception  of  one  lady  in  the  station,  all  the  Euro- 
peans were  thankful  for  his  ministrations,  and  became  more 
or  less  interested  in  his  peculiar  work,  through  being  wit- 
nesses to  his  devotedness  and  zeal.  The  lady  referred  to 
once  attacked  him  in  society,  and  put  a  veto  on  flirther  con- 
versation, when  he  attempted  to  answer  her.  His  only  re- 
source was,  to  frame  his  discourse  on. the  next  Sabbath,  so 
as  to  meet  all  she  had  said,  and  he  did  this  so  wisely,  though 
very  faithfully,  that  he  avoided  giving  offense,  and  the  lady, 
who  soon  after  left  the  station,  always  continued  to  manifest 
much  regard  and  respect  for  him. 

Throughout  the  cold  season,  he  continued  his  itinerant  la- 
bors in  the  districts  both  of  Burdwan  and  Bancoorah ;  this  was 
the  branch  of  missionary  labor  in  which  he  delighted  from 
first  to  last,  and  he  was  certainly  peculiarly  fitted  for  it, 
from  his  bodily  and  mental  activity,  readiness  of  application, 
unselfishness,  and  cheerful  temper.  He  was,  however,  often 
sadly,  and  to  himself  very  painfully,  hindered  in  it,  by  the 
accumulation  of  duties  connected  with  other  branches  of  the 


104  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

mission.  The  paucity  of  laborers  is  the  great  drawback  and 
hindrance  in  missionary  work  in  all  heathen  lands ;  and  this 
is  peculiarly  felt,  in  a  large  and  thickly-populated  country 
like  India.  The  single-handed  missionary  can  not  follow  up 
his  labors,  and  while  he  is  engaged  in  one  part  of  his  district, 
or  in  one  branch  of  his  mission,  the  enemy  enters  and  sows 
tares  among  the  springing  wheat  in  another.  This  was  per- 
ceived and  often  mourned  over  by  Mr.Weitbrecht,  and  will 
still  have  to  be  lamented,  until  the  Lord  influence  the  hearts 
of  many  more  to  engage  in  His  service,  and  thrust  them 
forth  as  laborers  into  His  harvest. 

Having  never  yet  visited  Serampore,  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
took  this  opportunity  of  doing  so,  being  in  the  neighborhood. 
We  will  give  his  account  of  his  reception  in  his  own  words : 
"  On  touching  at  this  interesting  spot,  Mr.  Barclay,  one  of 
the  missionary  circle,  came  to  meet  me,  and  took  me  to  the 
printing  establishment,  where  I  found  Mr.  Mack,  the  tutor 
of  the  college,  who  received  me  with  such  true  brotherly 
love,  as  to  impress  me  at  once  in  the  most  favorable  man- 
ner, with  the  spirit  of  these  dear  Baptist  missionaries. 
They  showed  me  all  that  was  interesting,  and  then  took  me 
to  Dr.  Marshman's,  where  1  was  received  and  welcomed  as  a 
brother,  and  the  hopes  and  expectations  expressed  by  this 
aged  servant  of  the  Lord,  with  regard  to  the  establishment 
of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  India,  cheered  my  spirit.  In 
the  evening  we  walked  in  the  celebrated  botanical  garden 
of  Dr.  Carey,  and  while  there,  we  witnessed  the  arrival  of 
an  ambassador  from  the  Emperor  of  Burmah,  who  came  to 
visit  the  Danish  Governor  and  Dr.  Carey.  His  whole  suite 
accompanied  him,  and  as  they  walked  about  the  garden  too, 
I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  them.  Two  servants 
bore  golden  umbrellas  before  the  great  man ;  another  car- 
ried a  small  vessel  with  betel  nuts,  and  other  spices  in  golden 
cups,  of  which  he  partook  almost  constantly.    There  were 


DR.  CARET  BISHOP  WILSON  MR.  DUFF. 


105 


some  ladies  with  them,  who  smoked  segars  as  well  as  the 
men ;  their  features  were  plain,  resembling  the  Chinese. 
After  a  while,  we  met  the  venerable  Doctor  himself,  who 
was  *  leaning  on  his  staff,'  like  the  patriarch  J acob.  This 
valiant  old  soldier  of  Christ,  who  has  so  faithfully  borne  the 
burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  looks  forward  with  cheerful 
hope  to  the  rest  awaiting  him,  when  his  Lord  shall  call  him  to 
enjoy  his  reward.  I  enjoyed  an  hour's  conversation  with  him, 
in  which  he  mentioned  to  me  with  gratitude,  the  great  moral 
change  to  which  he  had  been  witness  during  his  residence  in 
India,  both  among  Europeans  and  natives.  I  afterwards  ac- 
companied him  back  to  his  house.  I  then  visited  the  village, 
where  the  native  Christian  flock  reside,  and  made  acquaint- 
ance with  them  and  saw  their  chapel.  I  spent  the  evening 
at  Mr.  Mack's,  saw  Mr.  Leechman,  another  dear  brother,  and 
left  the  following  morning,  exceedingly  refreshed  and  grati- 
fied by  all  I  had  witnessed." 

The  feeling  of  regard  was  mutual,  and,  from  this  time 
forward,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  never,  if  he  could  help  it,  passed 
Serampore  without  paying  its  mission  circle  a  friendly  visit. 
He  said  it  did  him  good  to  see  them,  and  always  renewed 
most  pleasant  reflections  connected  with  the  sainted  Martyn. 
The  pagoda  which  was  used  by  him  as  an  oratory  still  stands 
on  the  river  bank,  adjacent  to  Serampore,  at  the  entrance  to 
Aldeen,  the  residence  of  Martyn's  friend  David  Brown,  and 
is  an  object  of  interest  to  the  passing  missionary  traveller, 
as  he  makes  his  way  up  the  sacred  stream  of  the  Ganges. 

On  reaching  Calcutta,  Mr.  "Weitbrecht  visited  Bishop 
Wilson,  with  whom  he  had  become  acquainted  in  London, 
and  was  most  kindly  and  affectionately  received  by  him, 
and  invited  to  stay  at  the  palace.  He  always  felt  a  warm 
love  and  veneration  for  this  beloved  father  in  Christ  till  the 
close  of  his  life,  and  derived  many  a  blessing  from  intercourse 
with  him.    He  also  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Duff, 


106         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

then  a  young  and  very  zealous  missionary,  and  was  delighted 
with  his  plans.  The  noble  institution,  which  was  destined 
to  become  such  a  blessing  to  the  city  of  Calcutta,  was  just 
then  springing  into  life.  Like  the  grain  of  mustard  seed,  it 
was  apparently  small  and  insignificant,  but  like  it,  the  inher- 
ent vitality  it  possessed  has  since  developed  itself,  and  it 
may  now  be  well  compared  to  a  large  and  goodly  tree,  in  the 
branches  of  which  the  birds  of  the  air  may  take  shelter. 

The  first  news  which  reached  him,  after  he  got  home,  was 
that  of  the  death  of  Captain  Stewart,  to  whose  pious  zeal 
the  Burdwan  Mission  owed  its  origin.  He  had  been  reduced 
in  worldly  circumstances  by  unsuccessful  speculations ;  but 
in  his  days  of  sorrow  and  distress,  the  same  Hand  supported 
him  on  which  he  had  learned  to  lean  in  the  time  of  prosper- 
ity, and  his  greatest  joy  was  to  hear  of  the  building  up  of 
Zion.  His  end  was  peace,  and  his  pious  widow  was  com- 
forted. Mr.  Weitbrecht  committed  his  remains  to  the  earth, 
surrounded  by  all  the  residents  of  the  place,  who  esteemed 
and  honored  him  ;  and  he  preached  his  funeral  sermon  on 
the  following  Sunday,  from  the  words,  "  Blessed  are  the 
dead  which  die  in  the  Lord."  Just  after,  his  spirit  was  re- 
freshed by  one  of  those  drops  of  dew,  which  here  and  there 
distil  upon  the  pilgrim  missionary  in  his  wilderness  journey. 
He  "  observed  a  stranger  in  church  listening  with  intense 
eagerness"  to  his  sermon ;  this  individual  addressed  him  af- 
terwards, and  reminded  him  of  a  visit  he  had  paid  to  his 
dying  wife,  two  years  before,  at  Bancoorah,  when  he  had 
read  a  chapter  and  spoken  words  of  comfort  to  her  soul, 
and  then  prayed  with  the  whole  family.*  She  soon  after 
"  slept  in  Jesus,"  whom  she  loved,  and  from  that  hour,  her 
husband  had  become  "  an  humble  suppliant  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross ;  feeling  no  rest  till  he  had  found  peace  in  Him, 


*  See  page  11. 


LETTER  TO  MR.  WOODROFFE. 


107 


on  whom  his  heart  and  hopes  were  now  firmly  fixed."  The 
Sunday  before,  he  had  received  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  in 
reference  to  that  solemn  occasion  he  said :  "  O  sir  !  what  a 
blessed  season  that  was  to  my  soul !  For  years  I  have  neg- 
lected the  ordinance  when  I  had  the  opportunity  of  attend- 
ing it ;  but  now  I  venture  to  draw  near  with  trembling,  be- 
lieving that  Jesus  can  pardon  the  vilest  sinner,  even  myself 
the  chief." 

During  the  succeeding  week,  a  native  Christian  and  his 
\vife  were  suddenly  called  into  eternity.  They  were  good 
and  pious  people,  and  carried  on  the  girls'  school.  It  was  a 
severe  loss,  though  alleviated  by  the  blessed  hope  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht  had  concerning  them.  In  the  hour  "  when  heart  and 
flesh  were  failing,"  the  dying  woman  said  to  her  husband, 
"  Jesus  calls,  and  I  am  going  to  Him."  Both  died  of  cholera, 
and,  as  their  places  could  not  be  supplied,  the  school  suffered 
an  irretrievable  blow.  Another  female  member  of  his  native 
flock  was  also  carried  off";  she  too  appeared  an  humble  believer. 
As  the  other  females  stood  around  her  bed  weeping,  he  gave 
them  a  solemn  address  on  the  necessity  of  preparation  for 
death.  He  remarks  in  his  journal,  "  I  never  witnessed  a 
human  being  fading  away  so  suddenly  before.  Truly,  in 
India,  we  carry  our  lives  in  our  hand." 

The  letter  which  follows  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Wood- 
roffe.  Clerical  Secretary  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society : 

"  My  Dear  Friend  :  ....  If  you  inquire  why  I 
am  so  fond  of  writing  to  you,  I  can  only  say,  it  is  because 
you  love  me  as  your  own  brother.  Whenever  I  think  of 
the  brotherly  reception  you  gave  me,  on  my  first  arrival  in 
England,  and  as  often  as  I  saw  you  afterwards,  my  heart  is 
drawn  out  to  you  in  love,  and  often  do  I  remember  you  in 
my  prayers.    I  know  that  you  likewise  bear  me  in  mind, 


108  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


and  supplicate  blessings  for  me,  both  on  my  soul,  and  for 
the  glorious  work  which  is  intrusted  to  me. 

"  We  brethren,  who  live  not  too  far  from  each  other, 
have  agreed  to  meet  three  times  a  year  for  mutual  encour- 
agement, consultation,  and  prayer,  at  each  other's  stations. 
The  first  meeting  will  take  place  here  in  Easter  week.  We 
need  to  adopt  some  means  to  stir  each  other  up  to  diligence 
and  perseverance  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  Pray  often  for 
us ;  though  we  see  blessings  upon  our  labors,  and  though 
the  Lord  is  present  with  us,  we  have  occasionally  hard  and 
trying  seasons  to  go  through,  and  faith  without  sight  is  re- 
quisite. Many  look  on  the  gloomy  side,  and  get  dejected. 
A  cheerful  hopeful  spirit,  firmly  fixed  on  Christ  and  His  pro- 
mises, is  what  we  must  have,  to  keep  us  aloft,  amidst  the 
dreary  scenes  we  meet  in  the  thorny  path.  This  is  a  gift 
of  God,  and  must  come  through  prayer.  May  His  grace 
guide  us  overmore  !  Your  sincere  and  affectionate  friend 
and  brother,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  meeting  referred  to  in  the  above  letter  took  place, 
and  proved  "  a  delightful  season  of  refreshing."  It  was 
continued  till  the  localities  of  the  brethren  were  so  changed, 
that  it  was  rendered  impracticable.  At  this  time  a  man 
applied  for  Christian  baptism,  who  had  often  attended  church 
with  the  native  Christian  lately  deceased.  He  had,  for  sev- 
eral years,  been  a  leper,  and  had  wept  and  prayed  before  an 
idol  for  relief  As  he  was  doing  so  he  fell  asleep,  and  saw 
in  his  dream  a  man  who  pointed  out  to  him  certain  herbs, 
which,  when  prepared  with  ghee,  (clarified  butter,)  would 
heal  him.  On  awaking  he  sought  and  found  the  plants,  pre- 
pared and  applied  them,  and  was  cured.  He  related  the 
story  with  simplicity,  and  such  appearance  of  truth  that, 
writes  Mr.  W.,  in  his  journal,  one  could  scarcely  disbelieve 
him ;  and  he  stated,  that  his  desire  to  become  a  Christian 


PREACHES  AT  A  WEDDING  FESTIVAL.  109 

ai'ose  from  a  feeling  of  gratitude  to  the  true  God,  of  whom 
he  had  now  heard,  and  who  was,  he  felt  sure,  the  Almighty 
Being  who  had  really  directed  his  cure. 

Notwithstanding  the  gi'eat  heat  which  now  prevailed,  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  was  much  engaged  in  preaching,  day  after  day, 
and  describes  the  people  as  "  hearing  with  earnestness." 
He  visited  a  line  of  villages  along  the  banks  of  the  Damu- 
dah  river,  which  are  very  populous.  On  one  occasion,  by 
the  ad^-ice  of  his  catechist,  he  began  to  read  his  Gospel 
before  a  house  where  a  wedding  was  being  celebrated.  The 
youthful  bridegroom,  besmeared  with  tumeric,  came  out 
to  salute  him,  and,  by  degrees,  the  various  guests  followed 
and  formed  a  circle  around  him.  He  inquired  for  the  father, 
and  was  told  he  was  blind.  "  But  he  can  hear,  I  hope,"  he 
replied,  "for  I  have  good  news  to  communicate."  The  old 
man  was  then  led  forward,  and  stated  his  age  to  be  one 
hundred  years,  and  added,  almost  in  the  words  of  Jacob, 
"  Few  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the  years  of  my  life  been," 
but  he  was  evidently  not  so  old,  though  trembling  with  de- 
crepitude. Several  women  were  among  the  congregation, 
and  the  poor  old  man,  who  said  he  had  been  blind  thirty 
years,  listened  with  folded  hands  to  the  glad  tidings,  that 
"  Jesus,  the  true  light,  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world,"  was  ready  to  shine  on  all  who  seek  Him. 
The  crowd  was  most  attentive,  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  felt  en- 
couraged to  hope,  that  the  Lord  would  cause  the  seed  to 
spring  and  fructify. 

In  May  of  this  year,  that  dreadful  and  devastating  gale 
occurred,  which  desolated  the  whole  of  Lower  Bengal,  and 
made  hundreds  of  children  orphans.  This  circumstance  led 
to  the  formation  of  Mrs.  Wilson's  Orphan  Kefuge ;  and, 
eventually,  to  that  of  Burdwan.  The  storm  lasted  four 
days,  but  was  no:  so  severe  in  Burdwan  itself,  as  lower 
down  the  country. 


110  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


The  following  letter  may  find  a  suitable  place  here  : 

"  BuRDWAN,  April  25,  1833. 

My  Dear  Brother  Walker  :  Yesterday  I  received  your 
long-desired  and  welcome  letter.  How  delighted,  refreshed, 
and  encouraged  I  was  by  the  spirit  of  brotherly  love  which 
breathed  through  every  line  !  I  read  it  with  gratitude  to 
our  Father  in  heaven,  for  the  blessing  of  spiritual  commun- 
ion which  we  enjoy  with  each  other  in  Christ  Jesus.  After 
its  persual  I  thought.  Well,  if  we  derive  so  much  joy  and 
happiness  from  our  fellowship  with  our  brethren  here  be- 
low, how  delightful  will  that  state  be,  where  we  shall  see 
Jesus,  through  whose  love  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  here, 
friendship  affords  that  blessed  enjoyment  which  now  we 
taste  !  Oh !  what  will  it  be  to  find  each  other,  one  day,  in 
His  presence,  to  love  without  any  intermixture  of  sin,  and 
to  enjoy  without  any  alloy  of  sorrow  !  Dear  friend,  it  is 
well  worth  while  to  love  our  Saviour,  were  it  only  for  the 
peace  springing  from  His  communion  here,  but  how  much 
more  cause  have  we  for  the  exercise  of  godliness,  when  re- 
flecting on  the  things  which  are  to  be  revealed  hereafter ! 
Therefore  we  can  not  faint,  but,  in  His  strength,  press  on- 
ward in  our  course  rejoicing.  We  will  not  mind  our  dis- 
tance from  each  other.  It  sufficeth  us  to  know  that  Christ 
is  equally  near  to  each  of  us,  that  the  centre  of  our  hope 
and  affection  is  that  object  on  which  we  shall  at  last  look, 
and  find  our  joy  perfected. 

"  I  scarcely  need  to  say,  how  much  comfort  I  take  from 
your  renewed  assurance  that  your  prayers,  and  the  prayers 
of  others  around  you  who  know  me,  are  often  ascending  on 
my  behalf  to  the  throne  of  mercy.  1  am  sometimes  con- 
scious of  a  new  vigor,  and  increased  boldness  to  bear  witness 
to  the  truth  of  Christ's  salvation  to  these  lost  sheep  around 
me,  and,  at  such  times,  I  feel  assured  that  this  is  the  sweet 
fruit  of  the  prayers  of  my  brethren  at  home.    I  love  them 


bengel's  life. 


Ill 


for  the  aid  they  thus  render  me ;  and  beseech  the  Lord  to 
reward  them  a  thousand-fold,  and  return  into  their  own 
bosom  that,  for  which  they  supplicate  on.  behalf  of  me  and 
my  work.  Though  I  can  not  see  you,  my  heart  is  with  you. 
My  spirit  often  takes  flight  to  your  delightful,  peaceful  man- 
sion, where  I  pass  over  afresh  the  scenes  I  witnessed  in  your 
habitation,  garden,  and  churchyard,  all  of  which  I  hold  iu 
lively  recollection.  As  the  Lord  has  given  you  another 
dear  partner,  I  should  feel  an  additional  interest  in  visiting 
you  now,  and  such  a  thing  is  possible,  and  we  can  tell  each 
other  again  what  the  Lord  has  done  for  us ;  but  if  my 
health  continues  as  good  as  it  is  now,  and  an  open  door  is 
granted  for  the  entrance  of  the  Gospel  among  the  heathen, 
I  shall  certainly  never  propose  to  go  home.  My  callmg, 
though  full  of  trouble,  and  making  daily  appeals  to  self- 
denial,  is  dear  to  my  heart ;  and  I  am  sure,  that  a  mission- 
ary never  felt  happier  in  his  labors  than  I  do.  I  have  found 
favor  with  all,  both  Europeans  and  natives,  with  whom  I 
have  become  acquainted,  so  that  I  often  feel  quite  surprised, 
and  can  only  account  for  it  by  believing,  that  all  my  prayers 
for  that  very  purpose  have  been  heard  and  answered." 
(He  then  goes  on  to  give  details,  and  referring  to  the  arrival 
of  his  brethren  as  a  time  of  refreshment  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  entreats  the  prayers  of  his  friend,  that  a  spirit 
of  union  in  the  Lord  may  be  preserved  among  the  mission- 
aries in  India.)  "  In  former  days,"  he  goes  on  to  say,  "  that 
spirit  was  sometimes  wanting,  and  the  efiect  was  visible. 
We  can  only  fight  eflectually  against  the  enemy,  when 
standing  before  the  Lord  as  one  man. 

"  And  so  you  have  translated  Bengel's  Life  into  English ; 
this  very  book  was  lying  on  my  desk  when  your  letter  ar- 
rived, and  I  have  now  read  it  through.  May  your  effort 
be  productive  of  many  a  blessing  to  those  who  may  read 
that  truly  valuable  and  interesting  biography  !    I  said  but? 


112  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

lately  to  a  friend,  I  would  myself  translate  it  if  I  had  time, 
so  much  was  I  interested  and  edified  by  its  perusal.  I  like 
the  style  of  it ;  no  bombast  or  pomposity,  no  high-sound- 
ing terms  and  empty  words ;  every  sentence  has  substance, 
and  conveys  some  truth  to  the  heart  or  understanding. 

"  And  I  find  you  have  also  been  introduced  to  dear  Hol- 
facker's  Sermons.  He  was  the  man  who  brought  me  nearer 
to  Jesus,  when  I  was  yet  half  in  the  dark.  Hence  I  am  one 
of  his  enthusiastic  admirers,  and  I  remember  telling  you  at 
Purleigh,  how  many  young  people  were  awakened  through 
his  ministry. 

"  Our  excellent  bishop  is  a  great  blessing,  doing  good 
wherever  he  can,  and  opportunities  he  has  in  abundance. 
The  world  does  not  much  like  his  sermons,  which  are  too 
plain  and  faithful ;  so  they  laugh  at  his  little  peculiarities, 
India  is,  in  this  respect,  a  singular  country.  I  have  just 
heard  from  dear  Jetter,  who  describes  the  Greeks  as  a  dis- 
couraging race,  and  longs  to  be  in  India  again.  Would  that 
I  had  the  good  brother  at  my  side  !  he  is  very  dear  to  me. 
My  sheet  is  full,  and  I  have  not  told  you  what  I  am  doing ; 
but  who  can  offer  any  objectionif  I  write  again  shortly  ?  and 
I  shall  certainly  have  none  if  you  do  the  same.  The  heat  is 
awful ;  every  thing  I  touch  gets  wet  from  the  perspiration, 
and  this  is  only  the  commencement ;  the  two  worst  months 
are  still  in  reserve.  Dear  Lincke  has  already  been  a  suffer- 
er. Farewell,  my  dear  Walker  ;  my  Christian  love  to  your 
dear  wife  and  children,  and  all  who  remember  me ;  tell 
them  I  am  preaching  the  Gospel,  morning  and  evening,  to 
the  poor  Hindus  in  towns  and  villages,  schools,  highways, 
and  hedges,  and  I  try  to  '  compel  them  to  come  in.'  I  have 
already  baptized  a  little  flock  of  some  twenty,  and  many 
more  vfdll  be  gathered  in,  if  our  friends  in  England  are 
faithful  in  their  prayers  and  their  gifts.  Could  they  see 
what  I  see,  their  hearts  would  melt  as  mine  does,  in  com-- 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  RAJAH. 


113 


passion  for  them,  and  they  they  must  perish  if  we  do  not 
make  kno"svn  the  Gospel  to  them.  Ever  your  affectionate 
brother,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

In  June,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  attended  a  festival  at  the  Rajah's, 
when  the  young  man  was  formally  recognized  by  the  East- 
India  Company,  as  the  lawful  successor  of  the  deceased  Ra- 
jah. He  writes:  "A  grand  display  of  fireworks  marked 
the  event,  and  all  the  residents  were  invited.  The  youth  is 
about  fourteen  ;  a  fine,  handsome,  intelligent  boy,  an  adopt- 
ed sou  of  the  old  man's.  His  dress  was  literally  covered 
with  gold.  His  father  was  the  dewan  or  head-steward  of 
the  late  Rajah.  His  three  brothers  who  are  older  than  him- 
self, were  present,  and  behaved  very  respectfully  to  the 
company,  as  did  the  father  likewise." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  had,  at  this  time,  great  trouble  with 
some  unworthy  members  of  his  flock,  and  his  brother  Lincke 
became  very  ill  of  fever.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  leave, 
he  took  him  to  Culna,  and  put  him  into  a  pinnace  for  river 
air,  which  did  him  good,  while  he  was  himself  engaged  in 
his  usual  duties.  During  his  absence,  he  records  in  his 
journal  a  remarkable  preservation  from  danger,  with  which 
he  met.  "  I  dreamed,"  he  writes,  "  very  vividly,  that  1 
saw  the  entire  roof  of  my  apartment  giving  way  over  my 
head.  My  feelings  of  anxiety  were  indescribable,  and  1 
thought  I  must  die  if  I  did  not  fly  instantly.  I  rushed  from 
bed,  and  jumped  out  of  the  window ;  providentially  it  was 
not  more  than  a  few  feet  above  the  ground,  so  that  I  escaped 
with  a  few  bruises.  Had  I  been  sleeping  in  an  upper  room 
I  should  probably  have  awoke  no  more  on  earth." 

On  his  return  to  Burdwan  he  went  to  visit  the  Rajah's  fa- 
mily, by  whom  he  was  received  in  a  very  friendly  manner, 
and  managed  to  lead  the  conversation  to  the  subject  of  the 
Christian  religion,  and  to  preach  the  Gospel  before  a  num- 
ber of  wealthy  Hindus ;  he  also  presented  the  Rajah's  fa- 


114  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ther  with  a  Testament,  which  was  well  received.  He  gave 
them,  in  his  address,  "  a  clear  compendium  of  the  most  im- 
portant truths  which  concern  man's  salvation,"  and  applied 
his  subject  with  earnest  faithfulness.  He  was  listened  to 
with  silent  attention,  and  records  his  deep  gratitude  to  God, 
for  being  "  permitted  and  enabled  to  make  known  His  mes- 
sage on  the  occasion  of  this,  his  first  visit  to  the  wealthiest 
and  most  influential  family  in  Bengal."  Prahn  Babu,  the 
father  of  the  Rajah,  always  continued  to  manifest  the  same 
respect  and  esteem  for  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  as  long  as  he  lived; 
and  made  a  practice  of  sending  for  him,  to  consult  him  and 
obtain  his  advice  on  all  important  occasions.  He  was  then 
introduced  to  the  young  Rajah  in  his  own  apartment.  The 
youth  was  magnificently  dressed  in  a  satin  vest,  embroider- 
ed with  gold  and  silver  flowers ;  and  on  his  two  thumbs  he 
wore  large  diamond  rings.  He  was  pleased  with  his  intelli- 
gence, and  asked  him  many  questions  about  his  studies  ;  and, 
as  he  manifested  an  interest  in  what  he  said,  he  promised 
to  repeat  his  visit,  which  was  evidently  agreeable  to  both 
father  and  son.  "  The  young  Rajah  expressed  his  pleasure 
in  a  very  natural,  simple  way,  at  hearing  himself  addressed 
by  a  Sahib  in  his  native  tongue,  the  Bengali."  Most  Euro- 
peans adopt  the  Hindustani  in  their  intercourse  with  natives, 
which,  being  the  language  of  their  Mussulman  conquerors, 
is  not  so  acceptable  to  them,  nor  is  it  generally  so  well  un- 
derstood by  Hindus  in  Bengal  as  their  mother  tongue.  Be- 
fore taking  leave,  he  requested  their  assistance  to  enable 
him  to  erect  a  substantial  building  for  the  English  school, 
as  the  one  then  existing  was  merely  of  mat,  thatched  with 
straw. 

After  a  little  reflection,  the  father  said :  "  Build  a  school, 
I  will  pay  for  it.  Send  your  subscription-book  to  me,  and 
the  young  Rajah  and  all  my  family  will  contribute."  The 
promised  donation  amounted  to  1 000  Rs. ;  and  when  that 


ERECTION  OF  A  SCHOOL-HOUSE. 


115 


proved  not  quite  enough  to  finish  the  building,  he  after- 
wards added  500  Rs.  more.  The  school-house  was  erected 
along  the  high  road  leading  into  the  town.  It  is  a  handsome 
and  substantial  building  of  solid  masonry,  with  a  high  roof 
and  a  spacious  verandah,  supported  by  ten  pillars.  The 
large  hall  is  fifty-four  feet  long,  and  twenty-three  broad,  and 
calculated  to  accommodate  one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils. 
The  verandah  was  intended  and  used  as  a  preaching-place  in 
the  evenings.  The  whole  cost  was  2300  Rs.,  1500  Rs.  of 
which  were  from  the  Rajah,  and  the  remainder  was  made  up 
by  other  friends  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  himself.  He  eventu- 
ally became  English  tutor  to  this  young  nobleman,  and  re- 
ceived a  salary  of  150  Rs.  a  month,  for  devoting  to  him 
one  hour  every  afternoon,  from  two  to  three,  when  he  was  at 
home.  This  arrangement  met  with  the  full  approval  of  the 
Committee  in  Calcutta,  whom  he  consulted ;  and  when  he 
inquired  how  he  should  employ  the  money,  they  told  him, 
in  reply,  "  that  should  be  left  to  his  own  discretion."  It 
was  faithfully  disbursed  for  missionary  purposes,  and  en- 
abled him  to  do  good  in  many  ways.  "  The  apostolic 
Schwartz  was  placed  in  a  somewhat  similar  position,"  he 
writes ;  and,  on  alluding  to  this  in  his  journal,  he  prays 
to  be  "  made  equally  faithful  with  that  holy  man,  and  as 
much  blessed." 

The  next  entry  in  his  journal  we  will  transcribe.  It  shows 
that,  while  the  world  was  smiling  on  him  from  without,  the 
real  and  true  spiritual  life  was  not  suffering  within.  The 
Lord  always  remembered  him  in  mercy,  and  gave  him 
many  a  counterpoise,  to  prevent  him  being  injured  by  all 
the  favor  he  received  from  man.  "  My  soul  languishes.  I 
long  for  help.  I  feel  myself  very  poor  and  miserable. 
The  world  seems  like  a  prison  to  me.  This  state  lasted  till 
evening,  when  I  was  enabled  to  pour  out  my  heart  with  a 
torrent  of  tears  before  my  Saviour.    I  then  experienced  un- 


116  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

speakable  consolation.  Oh !  for  a  more  constant  inward  com- 
munion with  Him,  that  nothing  might  interrupt !  What  a 
mercy  that  we  are  allowed  to  make  full  use  of  Him ;  but 
there  is  so  much  danger  of  losing  it  among  the  manifold 
cares  and  various  occupations  of  a  missionary  life." 

As  Mr.  Lincke  was  accompanying  Mr.  Weitbrecht  one 
evening  to  preach  in  a  village,  they  passed  a  number  of  con- 
victs, who  were  returning  to  the  jail  after  their  daily  labor 
on  the  road.  "  The  thought  struck  me,"  he  writes,  "that 
the  sweet  comfort  of  the  Gospel  would  be  very  acceptable  to 
these  poor  people  in  their  misery  ;  so  I  stopped  them  and 
read  to  them  part  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  explain- 
ed it  to  them  in  a  simple  manner.  They  sat  down  around 
me,  laden  with  their  chains,  and  listened  with  astonishment 
to  this  message  of  compassion  and  love,  from  the  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth,  and  that  He  was  willing  to  save  such  as 
them." 

Thus  do  we  find  him,  sometimes  standing  in  the  high 
way,  teaching  "  the  prisoner  to  loose  his  chains,"  and 
anon,  sitting  by  some  afflicted  member  of  his  European 
flock,  to  minister  help  and  consolation  in  hours  of  grief  and 
bereavement.  He  had  often  occasion  to  do  this.  The  sur- 
viving widower,  whose  partner  had  shone  with  so  bright  a 
light,  amid  the  little  community  around  her,  during  her 
short  but  useful  and  blessed  course,  claimed  and  received 
much  of  his  sympathy ;  and  a  bereaved  mother,  "  whose 
heart,"  he  writes,  "  seemed  to  be  drawn  nearer  to  God, 
whom  she  had  already  begun  to  seek,  by  the  loss  of  one  of 
the  most  lovely,  heavenly-looking  infants  I  ever  baptized, 
entreated  me  to  visit  her  and  pray  for  her.*  I  committed 
this  dear  child's  remains  to  the  tomb  with  deep  feeling. 
His  parents  I  highly  esteem,  and  believe  them  to  be  really 

*  An  extract  from  a  letter  of  this  lady  to  him  will  be  found  further  on. 


SYMPATHY  WITH  THE  BEREAVED. 


117 


under  the  influence  of  the  Spirit's  teaching.  Another  fami- 
ly has  been  deprived  of  its  mother,  also  a  member  of  our 
little  band,  though  lately  removed  from  here.  She  was  a 
mother  in  Israel,  and  died  in  the  Lord,  whom  she  honored 
in  life.  I  wrote  to  her  bereaved  husband,  who  tells  me  in 
reply  that  he  is  '  sustained  by  the  arm  of  Omnipotence.' 
The  little  son  of  Mr.  M.  has  also  been  called  home.  Oh ! 
what  a  struggle  was  manifest  in  the  father's  heart  as  he  re- 
signed his  only  child ;  but  in  this  case,  too,  I  believe  it  will 
bring  forth  fruit  unto  holiness."  These  hopes  and  expecta- 
tions were  not  disappointed,  as  subsequent  events  proved  in 
regard  to  all  these  individuals. 

A  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Dealtry,  as  he  passed  through 
Burdwan  on  his  way  to  Beerbhoom,  was  "  a  word  in  season 
to  many  who  were  weary."  It  was  founded  on  the  text, 
"All  things  work  together  for  good,  to  them  that  love  God." 
This  kind  friend  collected  150  Rs.  at  Beerbhoom,  and  pre- 
sented them  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht  on  his  return,  for  his  schools. 

He  thus  pyrites  to  Mr.  Jowett,  who  had  now  become  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society : 

"  My  Dear  Friend  :  I  give  you  sincere  thanks  for  your 
kind  letter.  It  was  very  encouraging  to  hear  that  you 
remember  me,  and  that  with  Christian  affection.  I  shall 
never  forget  my  kind  reception  in  your  dear  family,  during 
the  first  few  weeks  while  I  was  yet  a  perfect  stranger  in 
London,  and  had  it  not  in  my  power  to  make  myself  under- 
stood. How  circumstances  have  since  changed !  Your  dear 
partner  is  in  heaven,  and  you  are  left  alone  ;  but  yet  never 
alone,  for  you  have  One  near  you  who  is  dear  above  all 
friends.  As  to  myself,  I  expected  to  be,  by  this  time, 
preaching  the  Gospel  of  salvation  to  the  tribes  of  Abyssinia, 
and  my  whole  time  in  London  was  spent  in  preparation  for 
that  work ;  but  God  ordered  it  otherwise,  and  would  have 
me  go  to  India.    It  was  p  ^ninfnl  disappointment  at  the 


118  MEMOIR  OF  RilV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

time,  but  I  now  see  how  wisely  it  was  arranged.  I  could 
never  have  entered  on  a  more  useful  sphere  than  I  now  fill. 
Alas  !  our  dear  brother  Kughler  is  gone  home,  and  the  pro- 
spects of  that  mission  are  beclouded  at  once,  at  the  moment 
when  success  seemed  certain ;  but  the  Lord  will  create  light 
out  of  darkness,  and  though,  for  a  while,  trials  may  abound, 
the  Gospel  will  eventually  triumph  over  ignorance  and  sin. 
I  know  brother  Isenberg,  and  am  glad  he  is  going  to  Abys- 
sinia ;  he  unites  a  sound  mind  with  piety  and  considerable 
talent.    May  the  Lord  make  him  a  blessing  to  many  souls ! 

"My  journal  will  inform  you  of  my  progress.  The  morn- 
ings are  devoted  to  schools ;  the  evenings  to  preaching  in 
every  corner  around  me.  I  am  just  now  reading  Hindustani ; 
having  learned  Arabic  in  London,  I  feel  it  very  easy,  as  it  is 
derived  from  Persian.  I  have  conquered  Bengali,  but  the 
respectable  Mussulmans  speak  Hindustani. 

"There  are  many  places  in  this  district,  where  the  Gospel 
has  never  been  heard.  I  read  that  sentence  in  your  letter, 
in  which  you  request  me  to  '  tell  the  Hindus  how  Christians 
in  England  mourn  over  them,  and  pray  for  their  conversion,' 
to  my  pundit,  or  Sanscrit  teacher.  He  is  an  intelligent  man, 
but  a  stout-hearted  Brahmun.  He  was,  however,  much 
affected  by  it,  but  these  poor  people  obstinately  cling  to 
their  idols.  They  read  the  Gospel ;  they  feel  the  truth  of 
it ;  they  are  often  convinced  and  acknowledge  that  Jehovah 
alone  is  God  ;  and  yet  they  remain  hard,  and  do  not  desire 
to  have  a  share  in  the  precious  covenant  of  grace.  But  we 
must  go  on,  and  water  will  spring  up  in  the  desert  by  and 
by,  and  make  it  blossom  as  the  rose.  My  Christian  affection 
to  Messrs  Coates,  Bickersteth,  and  Dr.  Whiting.  I  have 
written  this  under  the  pressure  of  a  dreaiful  headache; 
excuse  my  scribbling.    Ever  yours  affectionately, 

"  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 


During  August,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  again  accompanied  his 


A.N  EARTHQUAKE. 


119 


friend  Captain  Vetch  on  one  of  his  excursions.  His  duty 
led  him  out  constantly  into  the  district,  to  superintend  the 
forming  of  roads,  erection  of  bridges,  etc. ;  and,  as  he  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  progress  of  truth  among  the  natives, 
he  was  always  delighted  to  be  accompanied  by  a  messenger 
of  peace,  who  shared  his  tent  and  his  table  with  him  on  these 
occasions. 

He  alludes  to  one  very  moving  scene,  to  which  he  was 
witness  on  this  journey,  where  above  sixteen  hundred  Hin- 
dus were  assembled  at  one  of  their  horrid  ceremonies.  "  J 
felt  something,"  he  writes,  "  of  what  the  evangelist  says  of 
Jesus,  '  He  had  compassion  on  the  multitude,'  and  gladly 
would  I  have  raised  my  voice  to  speak  to  them,  but  could 
obtain  no  hearing,  so  I  went  to  an  elevated  spot  near,  and 
distributed  tracts  to  those  who  came  to  me." 

On  his  return  home,  he  describes  the  shock  of  an  earth- 
quake, the  first  he  had  felt,  which  alarmed  his  servants  very 
much.  It  occurred  in  the  night,  and  he  was  aroused  by  the 
rocking  of  his  bed ;  the  doors  and  windows  opened  of  them- 
selves, and  the  trees  in  the  garden  swung  to  and  fro.  He 
describes  this  convulsion  of  nature,  as  "  a  solemn  and  mov- 
ing spectacle."  This  earthquake  was  felt  severely  at  Benares, 
and  did  much  mischief,  so  that  the  Brahmuns  cried  out, 
"  What  will  become  of  our  religion,  if  the  powers  of  nature 
begin  to  fight  against  us  *?"  At  Monghir,  the  widow  of  the^ 
devoted  missionary  Chamberlain,  who  was  dying,  had  to  be 
carried  out  of  her  house  upon  her  bed,  the  building  shaking 
so  fearfully  as  to  threaten  to  overwhelm  them. 

The  month  of  September  was  a  very  sickly  one ;  some 
affecting  deaths  occurred  in  the  missionary  circle,  and  several 
persons  were  carried  off"  at  and  near  Burdwan,  to  whom  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  was  called  on  to  administer  spiritual  instruction  in 
their  dying  hours.  These  duties  he  fulfilled  with  a  tender- 
ness, earnestness,  and  prayerfulness  that  much  impressed  all 


120         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

who  observed  him,  and  in  his  journal  we  find  many  little 
histories  of  these  solemn  events.  His  own  health  was 
asually  pretty  good;  but  his  abundant  labors,  and  sometimes, 
it  must  be  added,  imprudent  exposures  to  the  sun,  told  a 
good  deal  on  his  constitution,  and  his  severe  headaches  led 
him  to  the  too  frequent  use  of  powerful  medicines,  which,  by 
degrees,  weakened  his  digestive  powers,  (they  never  had 
been  strong,)  and  eventually  brought  on  a  feeling  of  prema- 
ture old  age,  and  a  constant  tendency  to  that  fatal  disease 
from  which  he  died. 

The  annual  festivals  now  agam  came  round,  and,  in  record- 
ing the  result  of  his  endeavors  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
besotted  multitudes,  he  says:  "The  hope  is  everywhere 
spoken  of,  of  the  glorious  period  approaching,  when  all 
nations  shall  bow  before  the  Lord;  but  when  the  missionary 
looks  into  the  night  of  sin  and  idolatry  in  which  the  Hindus 
are  still  lying,  that  hope  becomes  almost  beclouded.  Still 
the  promises  are  sure,  and  it  is  to  them  we  must  turn  our 
eyes." 

He  now  made  a  journey  in  a  new  direction,  and  visited 
Beerbhoom,  where  an  esteemed  member  of  his  English  flock 
had  removed,  in  whose  house  he  stopped.  He  was  here  intro- 
duced to  one,  whom  he  describes  "  as  a  dear  Baptist  brother, 
who  was  stationed  there ;  a  retiring,  faithful,  hard-working  • 
man,  whose  house,  dress,  and  all  about  him,  are  more  mis- 
*sionary-like  and  lowly,  than  I  have  ever  yet  seen  ;  and  with 
external  lowliness,  he  unites  humility  of  heart."  With  this 
man  of  God  he  at  once  became  at  home,  and  addressed  his 
flock  of  native  converts  at  his  request,  visited  his  schools 
with  him  and  examined  them,  and  accompanied  him  to  the 
bazaar  to  preach.  "  Mr.  Williamson,"  he  adds,  "  spoke  in 
a  very  attractive  and  kind  way  to  the  people,  but  he  makes 
a  tract  the  theme  of  his  discourse,  his  text  as  it  were.  In 
my  opinion,  no  human  word  can  equal  God's  word ;  and 
there  are  in  the  Prophets,  Gospels,  and  Epistles,  many 


MR.   WILLIAMSON  PRINCELY  PROCESSION. 


121 


simple,  instructive,  and  comprehensible  doctrines,  which  will 
certainly  touch  the  hearts  of  the  heathen  in  a  way  that  the 
most  beautiful  tract  is  unable  to  do." 

There  was  a  little  company  of  Europeans  at  this  station, 
similar  to  the  one  at  Burdwan  and  Bancoorah,  and,  as  it  did 
not  come  into  the  line  of  any  of  the  regular  clergy,  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  continued  to  visit  it  from  time  to  time  in  future 
years,  to  dispense  to  the  residents  there  the  bread  of  life. 
His  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Williamson  ripened  into  a  warm 
friendship ;  and,  though  of  different  views  on  some  points, 
they  became  closely  united  as  Christian  brethren,  and  were 
mutual  comforts  to  each  other ;  their  congregations  too 
became  connected  by  intermarriages,  to  the  great  benefit  of 
the  little  flock  at  Burdwan ;  for  Mr.  Williamson's  people 
were  several  of  them  partakers  of  the  same  spirit  as  their 
devoted  minister. 

In  October  Mr.  Weitbrecht  witnessed  a  ceremony,  entirely 
new  to  him,  attendant  on  the  young  Rajah  assuming  his  name, 
titles,  and  official  robes.  It  took  place  in  the  house  of  the 
Commissioner,  (a  civil  functionary  of  the  East-India  govern- 
ment, who  presides  over  three  judges,  in  three  distinct  dis- 
tricts,) who  handed  the  mandate  of  his  elevation  to  the  lad, 
in  the  name  of  the  Supreme  Government,  and,  when  he  was 
attired  in  the  prescribed  garments,  the  Commissioner  hung 
a  string  of  pearls  around  his  neck.  "  The  procession  from 
the  Commssioner's  house  to  the  palace  was  quite  princely. 
Elephants  in  pairs,  splendidly  caparisoned  and  ornamented 
with  flowers,  preceded.  The  Rajah's  horse  followed,  led  by 
^wo  servants ;  then  a  company  of  infantry,  and  the  body- 
guard on  horseback.  Liveried  servants,  with  gold  and  silver 
sticks,  w^alked  behind  these ;  and  lastly  the  Rajah  himself, 
borne  in  a  sedan  chair,  richly  covered  with  gold,  and  sur- 
rounded by  his  suite.  During  the  ceremony,  the  troops 
fired  a  salute  of  twenty  guns ;  and,  at  the  conclusion,  before 
6 


122  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

leaving  the  room,  the  Eajah  gave  his  right  hand  to  all  the 
government  servants  present.  He  behaved  throughout 
with  so  much  manly  dignity  as  to  astonish  us." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  visited 
Calcutta,  and  stopped  some  little  time  with  the  bishop, 
according  to  a  promise  he  had  made  him.  He  speaks  of  it 
as  being  a  very  blessed  visit,  the  bishop's  conversation  in 
private  life  "  being  always  with  grace,  seasoned  with  salt, 
and  that  which  is  good  to  the  use  of  edifying,  that  it  may 
minister  grace  to  the  hearers."  He  esteemed  it  a  great 
privilege  to  be  one  of  his  family  circle,  and  he  received,  as 
'he  had  done  from  the  first,  much  kind  and  affectionate  atten- 
tion from  his  chaplain,  Mr.  Bateman,  and  his  lady,  the 
bishop's  daughter.  He  was  present,  for  the  first  time,  at  the 
bishop's  monthly  conference,  which  is  attended  by  all  the 
clergy  in  the  neighborhood ;  including  both  chaplains  and 
missionaries.  A  subject  is  always  given  out  at  the  previous 
meeting,  which  is  to  be  discussed  the  next.  On  this  occasion, 
as  it  was  the  close  of  the -year,  it  was,  "  The  past  period  as  it 
related  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  within  us  and  around  us." 
All  are  at  liberty  and  are  invited  to  express  their  views  and 
opinions,  and  "  many  an  important  observation  was  made, 
and  instructive  experience  elicited  and  related."  "The 
bishop's  own  remarks  were  also  excellent,"  and  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht "  derived  much  encouragement  from  this  interesting 
meeting." 

He  was  again  earnestly  pressed,  at  this  visit,  to  remove 
to  Calcutta,  but  he  still  urged  his  former  reasons  so  success- 
fully that  Mr.  Haberlin  was  brought  down  from  Krishnaghur 
in  his  stead,  and  Mr.  Kruckeberg  removed  from  Bancoorah 
to  the  latter  place.  This  station  thus  fell  again  under  the 
charge  of  the  Burdwan  missionary,  and  remains  so  to  the 
present  day.  Added  to  Burdwan  Proper  (it  is  always 
officially  styled  West-Burdwan)  it  places  three  millions  of 


DEATH  OF  A  PIOUS  NATIVE  CATECHIST.  123 

souls  under  the  influence  of  one^  or  at  most  two  evangelists. 
Surely  those  who  read  this  will  cease  to  wonder  that  India  is 
not  yet  converted. 

In  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  annual  report  for  this  year,  he  men- 
tions having  "  added  three  adults  to  his  flock  by  baptism, 
who  were  walkmg  worthy  of  the  Gospel of  having  "  ex- 
cluded one,  and  received  two  back  who  had  been  excluded 
the  previous  year."  "  A  work  of  divine  grace,"  he  adds, 
"  has  been  commenced  in  some,  and  a  growth  in  it  can  be 
perceived  in  others ;  though  tender  and  feeble,  they  are,  I 
trust,  plants  which  our  heavenly  Father  has  planted,  but  I 
long  to  see  them  all  more  penetrated  by  the  love  of  Christ." 
In  allusion  to  his  catechist,  who  died  of  cholera,  he  observes : 
"  He  was  a  good  and  pious  man,  and  died  as  he  had  lived, 
edifying  all  around  him,  and  evincing  that  he  possessed  a 
sure  hope  of  glory  through  a  Saviour's  merits."  He  speaks 
of  having  nine  boys'  schools,  and  seven  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  scholars  receiving  instruction  in  the  vernacular  tongue, 
besides  the  English  school,  and  the  branch  schools  at  Ban- 
coorah.  "  The  people  evinced  an  increasing  desire  for 
education,  and,  in  several  places,  the  chief  men  offered  to 
build  a  school-house  if  we  would  consent  to  commence  a 
school." 


124         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Mr.  Boswell's  Visit — Marriage — A  new  Master  for  the  English  School — 
Erects  an  Orphan  House — Visit  to  the  Rajah — Serious  Illness — Many 
Trials  and  Encouragements — Inundation — Arrival  of  numerous  Or- 
phans— Death  of  an  Interesting  Convert — ^Mission  Tours. 

1834—1835. 

On  New  Year's  day  Mr.  Weitbrecht  writes  :  "  I  have 
now  spent  three  years  in  India,  and,  dependmg  on  the 
Almighty  hand  which  has  hitherto  so  graciously  and  faith- 
fully guided  me,  I  enter  on  the  fourth.  O  Lord  !  let  Thy 
favor  preserve  my  breath ;  for  in  this  land  we  sensibly  feel 
that  '  in  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death.'  Give  me, 
blessed  Jesus,  new  faithfulness,  new  zeal,  new  strength,  and 
new  blessings  in  my  work  in  this  vineyard,  wherein  Thou 
hast  called  me  to  labor.  My  comfort  under  all  my  own 
infirmities  and  weaknesses,  and  under  all  the  difficulties  and 
trials  of  my  pilgrim  way  is,  that  thou  wilt  never  leave  me 
nor  forsake  me.  My  soul  cleaveth  unto  Thee.  Thou  hast 
loved  me  first,  and  Thy  love  constraineth  me  to  live  and,  if 
called  on,  to  die  for  Thee.  Be  to  my  soul  more  and  more 
precious,  more  and  more  glorious,  more  and  more  dear ; 
preserve  me  to  Thy  heavenly  kingdom,  and  grant  me  at  last 
a  joyful  entrance  therein." 


MR.  BOSWELl's  visit. 


125 


Towards  the  middle  of  the  mouth,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  a  friend,  for  whom  he  had  high  a  esteem, 
Mr.  Boswell,  the  chaplain  of  Chinsurah.  He  spent  a  Sunday 
at  Burdwan,  preached  to  the  English  congregation,  and 
attended  the  annual  examination  of  the  vernacular  schools 
during  the  week.  Nearly  eight  hundred  children  assembled 
under  the  trees  in  the  mission  compound,  and  Mr.  Boswell 
was  much  astonished  at  their  knowledge,  not  only  of  the 
historical,  but  also  of  the  doctrinal  and  moral  parts  of  the 
sacred  Scriptures.  Three  hundred  youths  belonging  to  the 
first  classes  were  formed  into  a  square  before  the  Bengali 
chapel,  the  teachers  standing  in  the  centre,  all  neatly  dressed 
in  white.  It  was  an  interesting  sight,  in  the  clear  sunshine 
of  the  cool  month  of  January.  The  classes  came  forward,  in 
order,  to  the  shade  of  the  building ;  and  Mr.  Boswell  "  pro- 
posed any  questions  he  liked  in  English,"  which  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht  translated  into  Bengali,  and  "  they  were  readily  and 
promptly  answered."  His  delight  at  all  he  witnessed  was 
great,  never  having  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind  before.  "  The 
facility  with  which  even  the  youngest  could  read  the  New 
Testament  quite  surprised  me,"  he  wrote,  in  a  letter  which 
he  penned  in  reference  to  this  period,  a  part  of  which  may 
be  introduced  here. 

"  When  at  Burdwan  I  lived  with  Major  Vetch,  and  thus 
saw  less  of  dear  Weitbrecht  than  I  wished.  My  dear  and 
honored  friend  Corrie  had  led  me  to  expect  great  things  in 
the  missionary  of  Burdwan,  and  my  expectations  were  fully 
realized  on  this  occasion.  There  was,  at  the  time,  a  delight 
ful  community  at  the  place,  who  valued  him  for  the  truth's 
sake,  which  they  loved,  but  the  whole  station  honored  him ; 
and  there  was  a  meekness  of  wisdom,  and  a  power  of  love  in 
all  his  zeal,  which  made  even  those  who  could  not  enter  into 
his  schemes  of  good,  admire  him.  He  was  no  schemer, 
however,  that  I  saw  at  once,  he  was  a  thoroughly  practical 


126         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

man.  A  great  plan  would  suggest  itself,  and  having  tho- 
roughly considered  it,  his  whole  soul  was  thrown  into  its 
execution.  He  was  then  as  a  young  missionary  full  of  hope 
as  to  his  glorious  enterprise ;  and  though  his  eye  never 
dimmed  as  to  the  ultimate  triumph  of  the  only  Saviour's 
cause  in  India,  it  was  then  radiant  like  a  rising  sun,  as  we 
are  told  it  was  with  Melancthon,  before  he  had  tried  his 
powers  with  the  obduracy  of  human  hearts.  He  often  joined 
us  at  Major  Vetch's,  and  we  had  fine  topics  on  which  to 
sympathize.  We  talked  of  the  venerable  and  beloved  Cor- 
rie.  We  hailed  with  grateful  wonder,  the  appointment  of 
such  a  man  as  the  present  bishop  of  Calcutta.  We  talked 
over  the  marvellous  conversion  of  a  mutual  friend,  now  with 
his  wife  in  a  world  of  glory.  We  spoke  of  Germany,  and  of 
England.  We  had  a  quarter-deck  in  the  missionary  com- 
pound, and  in  Major  Vetch's  garden,  and  so  we  began  that 
intercourse,  which  I  shall  never  think  of  but  with  pleasure, 
and  hope  to  renew  in  heaven.  I  then  anticipated  many  joy- 
ful returns  of  my  visit  to  Burdwan,  but  it  was  the  only  one 
I  was  ever  permitted  to  make.  My  impressions  of  it  have, 
however,  often  been  renewed  very  vividly  by  a  dear  friend, 
who  afterwards  enjoyed  similar  intercourse  with  my  esteem- 
ed brother."  * 

This  month  was  "  a  time  of  much  inward  conflict"  to  Mr. 
Weitbrecht,  "  which  ended  in  thanksgiving  to  God  for  His 
gracious  dealings  with  him,  in  opening  his  path,  and  lead- 
ing to  a  union  with  a  beloved  helpmate,"  whom  he  received, 
as  he  did  all  his  blessings,  as  "  a  gift  sent  him  immediately 
from  God."  The  lady  to  whom  he  became  engaged,  had 
been  prepared  by  a  peculiar  course  of  Providential  dis- 
cipline, to  take  an  active  part  in  missionary  work,  and  had 
already  enjoyed  some  little  experience  of  it  practically. 
She  was  therefore  ready  to  enter  into  his  plans,  and  to  aid 


*  Mr.  "Wybrow. 


HIS  MARRIAGE. 


127 


him  iu  carrying  them  into  effect.  He  deeply  felt  the  "  great 
kindness,  and  sympathizing  joy  of  his  dear  brethren  and 
many  friends,  on  this  occasion."  He  was  married  in  Cal- 
cutta, by  his  revered  friend  Corrie,  on  the  7th  of  March,  in 
the  presence  of  a  large  circle  of  missionary  brethren  and 
others.  On  that  morning  he  wi'ote  in  his  journal :  "  My  de- 
sires are  accomplished,  and  the  most  important  day  of  my 
life  has  arrived.  My  German  brethren  have  come  from 
their  stations,  to  be  present  on  the  occasion  of  my  union 
^vith  a  kindred  spirit,  ^yhom  I  love  in  Jesus,  and  will  try  to 
love  as  He  loved  His  Church.  My  heart  is  filled  with  a 
heaven  of  joy,  and  I  bless  the  gracious  Giver  of  all  good, 
that,  at  length,  I  can  call  her  my  own."  He  was  particu- 
larly touched  by  the  affectionate  attention  of  the  bishop  to 
his  bride,  who  placed  her  by  his  side  at  tea,  saying,  "  Now 
you  have  married  one  of  my  dear  missionaries,  I  consider 
you  as  a  member  of  my  family.  I  regard  my  missionaries 
as  my  own  children."  He  communicated  the  pleasant 
tidmgs  to  his  family  in  Germany,  in  his  usual  style  of  affec- 
tionate openness.  "  My  time,"  he  writes  to  them,  "  becomes 
more  and  more  occupied  by  manifold  engagements,  so  that 
little  remains  for  letter-writing.  You  shall,  however,  always 
receive  your  share  of  that  little.  My  outward  circumstan- 
ces have  undergone  a  very  pleasant  change.  I  am  now  a 
husband,  and  can  venture  to  say,  from  my  short  experience, 
that  it  is  not  good  for  man,  particularly  for  a  missionary,  to 
be  alone.  My  friends  pronounce  me  happy  and  blessed 
in  having  found  a  suitable  and  devoted  companion,  who 
possesses  the  qualities  so  much  needed  in  a  missionary's 
wife.  ******  How  I  longed  for  your  presence  at  my 
wedding,  to  be  partakers  of  my  joy.  The  roughnesses  of  my 
missionary  course  are  now  much  smoothed.  My  joys  and 
my  sorrows  are  heartily  shared  by  another,  who  makes  the 
bitter  sweet,  and  lightens  all  my  difficulties,  by  her  active 
participation  of  them.    I  commend  her  with  myself  to  your 


128  MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

love  and  prayers.  It  is  our  mutual  desire  not  to  live  for 
the  flesh,  but  to  devote  our  souls  and  bodies  to  the  service 
of  our  divine  Eedeemer,  and  to  sacrifice  our  all  for  His  bless- 
ed work.  In  this  respect  we  see  eye  to  eye.  May  our  cove- 
nant God  bless  our  union,  and  employ  us  as  instruments  for 
the  bringing  of  souls  to  Him !"  To  his  wife's  family  he 
wrote :  "  I  must  send  your  dear  circle  a  few  lines,  to  assure 
you  of  my  high  regard  for  you,  and  of  my  gratitude  towards 
our  heavenly  Father,  who,  in  His  wise  and  kind  providence, 
has  sent  your  beloved  M.  from  a  distant  land  to  Bengal,  to 
become  my  wife.  One  more  fitted  to  be  a  real  helpmate  to 
me  in  my  glorious  work,  and  to  make  me  happy  amidst  all 
the  trials  of  my  arduous  path,  could  not  have  been  given ; 
and  I  hope  I  realize  the  bounteous  Giver  in  the  gift,  which 
has  been  bestowed  in  answer  to  long  and  earnest  supplication 
before  Him.  We  daily  pray,  and  would  ask  you  to  do  so 
too,  that  we  may  love  each  other  in  Jesus,  the  most  lovely 
among  ten  thousand.  Thus  shall  we  be  preserved  from  that 
idolatry  to  which  the  human  heart  is  so  prone.  If  our  lives 
are  spared  for  some  years,  we  may  witness  the  fulfillment 
of  some  of  the  most  animating  promises  of  God's  Word, 
with  regard  to  the  conversion  of  the  poor  heathen  who  sur- 
round us  in  myriads.    May  we  all,  dear  E  ,  through 

Jesus'  grace,  be  made  meet  for  His  heavenly  kingdom, 
where  we  shall  enjoy  each  other's  society  in  perfection,  and 
be  no  longer  subject  to  distress,  separations,  afflictions,  and 
sorrow !" 

To  Mr.  Jowett  he  wrote :  "  Our  native  Christian  females 
have  now  what  they  so  much  needed,  a  mother  who  cares 
for  their  temporal  and  spiritual  improvement.  I  am  just 
erecting  a  building  in  our  compound^,  intended  for  an  orphan 
asylum  and  girls'  boarding-school ;  and  we  trust  the  Lord  will 
give  His  blessing  to  this  new  efibrt.  The  necessary  funds 
will  be  supplied  by  the  ladies  of  this  station.    Our  English 


LABORS  LIGHTENED. 


129 


school-house,  a  beautiful  building,  is  finished  and  occupies  a 
conspicuous  place  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  The  Lord  is 
giving  me  favor  in  the  sight  of  Christians  and  heathen,  and 
wherever  I  want  help,  I  find  open  hearts.  Our  mission 
work  is  prospering,  and  I  am  laboring  in  hope  and  cheerful- 
ness ;  but  I  long  for  brethren  beside  me  who  understand 
Bengali.  I  should  do  nothing  but  preach  the  Gospel  around 
me,  and  I  am  so  happy  when  engaged  in  this  delightfiil  em- 
ployment ;  but  alas  !  just  as  I  am  feeling  free  to  engage  in 
it  continually,  brother  Lincke's  health  fails,  and  1  am  stand- 
ing alone  in  a  mission  which  would  give  full  employment  to 
three  active  brethren." 

At  the  same  time  that  his  cares  and  labors  were  lightened 
by  his  marriage,  he  was  also  privileged  to  receive  a  truly 
pious  and  devoted  schoolmaster,  Mr.  D'Rozario,  who  took 
charge  of  the  English  school,  and  continued  so  engaged  for 
five  years,  when  he  was  removed  to  Krishnaghur.  This 
humble-minded  and  faithful  man  labored  with  much  blessing 
at  Burdwan;  the  school  prospered,  both  spiritually  and 
temporally,  under  his  influence ;  and  he  was  highly  esteem- 
ed by  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  the  end  of  his  life.  His  friend 
Dr.  Cheek  had  been  removed  to  Burdwan  also,  and  many 
changes  took  place  at  Bancoorah ;  but  the  schools  were  kept 
up,  though  on  a  somewhat  reduced  scale,  and  he  continued 
to  make  periodical  visits  to  the  station  as  before.  Culua 
was  also  retained,  on  its  former  plan,  as  an  out-station  of 
Burdwan,  and  remained  so  attached  till  the  large  increase  of 
the  Christian  flock  in  the  Krishnaghur  district  made  it  desir- 
able to  remove  Mr.  Alexander  there,  and  the  place  was 
given  up  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  and  eventually 
occupied  by  another,  that  connected  with  the  Free  Church 
of  Scotland. 

A  few  days  after  his  marriage,  we  find  the  following  entry 
in  his  journal : 

(>* 


130  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

March  12. — "  This  afternoon  I  had  the  joy  of  introducing 
three  adult  Hindus,  by  baptism,  into  the  Church  of  Christ. 
I  have  been  instructing  them  for  some  months,  and  they 
seem  well  prepared  for  the  important  step,  and  give  every 
hope  of  being  worthy  members  of  our  newly-rising  church." 
This  they  truly  proved  to  be. 

When  at  Burdwan,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  commonly  sallied 
forth  at  six  in  the  morning,  on  an  elephant  supplied  to  him 
by  the  Rajah,  which  carried  him  often  several  miles  to  a 
school,  where  he  spent  two  hours  in  examining  and  preach- 
ing, and  returned  home  by  ten  or  eleven  to  breakfast.  He 
then  attended  to  the  secular  business  of  the  mission,  and  to 
study  till  two,  when  a  palanquin  and  bearers  arrived  from 
the  palace,  to  carry  him  to  instruct  the  Rajah.  On  return- 
ing from  thence  he  dined,  then  gave  a  singing  lesson  to  the 
boys,  and  at  sunset  went  to  preach  again.  After  tea,  he 
read  or  wrote  letters,  or  his  journal.  On  Wednesday,  he 
had  a  weekly  service  for  his  native  flock ;  and  Friday  he 
usually  remained  at  home  in  the  morning  and  prepared  an 
English  sermon ;  on  Saturday  evening  he  held  a  devotional 
service  with  his  brethren,  or  the  native  Christians.  This 
was  the  usual  routine,  varied  according  to  circumstances ; 
but  his  missionary  excursions  were  frequent,  and  whenever 
the  weather  and  other  engagements  permitted,  he  set  forth 
on  longer  or  shorter  tours  to  "preach  the  Gospel  in  the 
regions  beyond." 

The  girls'  day-school  in  Burdwan  was  not,  at  this  period, 
in  a  satisfactory  state,  no  suitable  teacher  having  been  found 
after  the  removal  of  those  referred  to  in  the  last  chapter. 
It  was  two  miles  distant  from  the  mission  station,  and  in  a 
place  very  difficult  of  access.  It  had,  moreover,  from  the  pe- 
culiar state  of  female  society  among  the  Hindus,  been  attend- 
ed with  very  small  results.  This  led  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weit- 
brecht seriously  to  consider  the  desirableness  of  attempting 


PREACHING  IN  THE  PALACE. 


131 


the  establishment  of  an  orphan  and  boardmg-school  for  girls, 
in  which  the  children  would  be  entirely  under  their  own  in- 
fluence and  direction,  and  from  which  they  might  hope  for 
real  and  permanent  good  to  accrue. 

They  therefore  resolved  upon  the  erection  of  a  building  for 
an  orphan  school,  (the  one  alluded  to  in  the  letter  to  Mr. 
Jowett,)  although,  at  the  time,  they  had  but  three  Christian 
orphan  girls,  and  no  immediate  prospect  of  others.  Several 
Christian  friends  spontaneously  offered  liberal  assistance  in 
the  way  of  money ;  and  it  soon  appeared,  from  various  cir- 
cumstances, thsit  the  hand  of  the  Lord  directed  them,  as  will 
be  related  her,^.aftsr. 

The  29th  of  Ayril  Mr.  Weitbrecht  notes  in  his  journal, 
as  his  thirty-secoj-d  birthday.  "  In  all  probability,"  he 
writes,  "  the  larger  part  of  my  life  is  spent,  and  how  little 
have  I  served  the  Lord  or  labored  for  Him  !  Grant,  O  Jesus ! 
that  I  may  become  inore  pure,  more  humble,  more  faithful, 
till  the  end  come  !" 

His  engagement  "with  the  Rajah  sometimes  gave  him 
much  encouragement.  On  one  occasion,  he  records  a  very 
interesting  conversation  he  held  with  him  and  his  brothers, 
after  the  death  of  a  gentleman  in  the  station,  which  led  to 
the  consideration  of  eternity,  and  enabled  him  to  press  home 
the  solemn  subject  of  preparation  for  it,  upon  their  hearts 
and  consciences.  "  They  seemed,"  he  writes,  "  much  aston- 
,ished,  that  any  one  could  regard  death  as  gain ;  but  I  tried 
to  explain  the  subject  to  them,  and  the  nature  of  the  Christ- 
ian's hope  ;  and  they  evinced  a  good  deal  of  interest,  as  long 
as  the  conversation  was  continued.  I  asked  permission  to 
preach  to  the  household,  and  it  was  granted.  A  large  con- 
gregation assembled  in  the  centre  court  of  the  palace,  and  I 
addressed  them  and  distributed  tracts  and  gospels  among 
them.    They  all  behaved  with  much  decorum.    The  Rajah  is 


132  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

very  anxious  to  be  introduced  to  my  wife,  and  I  promised  to 
bring  her.    He  at  once  fixed  a  day." 

He  notes  this  visit  on  a  subsequent  page  of  his  journal. 
*'  We  were  received  very  politely,  and  shown  all  that  was 
worth  seeing  in  the  house  and  garden.  The  Rajah  presented 
my  wife  with  a  muzzur  (a  gift)  of  four  hundred  rupees  on 
leaving.  This  will  be  a  great  help  in  the  erection  of  our 
girls'  school.  He  told  me  he  would  like  very  much  to  have 
a  nice,  lively  English  lady,  by  and  by,  when  it  is  time  for 
him  to  marry."  After  this,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  often  made 
the  bearer  of  little  remembrances  from  his  interesting  pupil 
to  his  wife. 

The  abundant  labors  in  which  he  was  engaged,  proved 
too  much  for  him  during  this  hot  season.  The  week-day 
engagements,  together  with  the  arduous  duties  of  the  Sab- 
bath, brought  on  an  acute  attack  of  inflammation,  and  laid 
him  very  low.  He  refers  to  it  in  the  following  letter  to  his 
family  : 

(Translation.) — June  1834. — "I  have  had  a  warnmg  to 
hold  myself  ready  for  the  call  of  the  Lord.  On  Sunday 
evening,  as  I  was  preparing  for  my  second  Bengali  service, 
I  felt  a  severe  pain  on  my  chest,  which  rapidly  increased, 
and  became  so  violent,  that  in  the  course  of  an  hour  I  could 
scarcely  breathe.  To  avoid  alarming  my  wife,  I  made  light 
of  it ;  but,  without  mentioning  it  to  me,  she  dispatched  a 
running  message  for  our  kind  friend.  Dr.  Cheek,  and  I  was 
surprised  to  see  him  presently  at  the  side  of  my  couch.  He 
lost  no  time  in  opening  a  vein,  and  1  was  relieved  by  copi- 
ous bleeding  and  by  the  medicines  which  he  administered. 
I  praise  the  Lord  who  has  thus  spared  me,  and  enabled  me 
to  resume  my  labors  of  love.  The  attack  was,  the  doctor 
assured  me  produced  by  too  great  exertion.  This  climate 
can  not  but  prove  occcasionally  dangerous  to  the  European 
constitution,  and  even  although  one  may  not  get  really  ill,  a 


DEPRESSING  EFFECTS  OF  BENGAL  CLIMATE.  133 

few  years  of  active  exertion  weakens  it  very  much.  These 
poor  frail  bodies  do  indeed  suffer  the  effects  of  sin,  subject 
as  they  are  to  so  much  sickness  and  trial,  and  in  a  heat 
like  that  we  are  now  enduring,  we  often  experience  that 
*  longing  for  the  redemption  of  the  body  from  the  bondage 
of  corruption  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of 
God,'  of  which  the  apostle  speaks  in  Rom.  8.  What 
times  of  refreshing  shall  we  enjoy  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  when  we  are  introduced  into  its  full  fruition  !  One 
of  our  most  active  misssionaries,  Mr.  Duff,  lately  remarked 
to  me,  that  if  he  had  to  choose  between  persecution  and  the 
pressure  of  such  a  destroying  climate,  he  would  gladly  ac- 
cept the  former,  as  in  such  circumstances,  the  servant  of 
Christ  has  the  liberty  of  giving  a  strong  and  cheerful  testi- 
mony to  the  truth,  while  in  our  position  the  faculties  both 
of  body  and  soul  become  completely  tamed^  and  the  most 
fervent  and  joyful  zeal  appears  to  be  melting  away  in  the 
intense  heat.  Yet,  my  dear  brother,  we  are  happy,  and  our 
happiness  springs  from  faith.  'The  Lord  will  finish  His 
work,  and  cut  it  short  in  righteousness ;  because  a  short 
work  will  the  Lord  make  upon  the  earth.'  It  is  true  we 
can  not  always  do  what  we  desire,  but  we  do  what  we  can. 
I  preach  much  among  the  Hindus  ;  and,  as  I  perceive  increas- 
ingly the  importance  of  this  work,  and  see  how  few  there 
are,  even  among  missionaries,  who  are  given  up  to  it,  and 
spend  their  time  in  preaching  Christ  without  restraint,  I  try 
to  be  more  and  more  diligent  in  this  branch  of  my  calling. 
Our  Lord's  commission  to  'preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature,'  is  what  I  would  desire  to  obey,  as  far  as  it  is  pos- 
sible to  free  myself  from  other  occupations.  I  have  been 
deeply  humbled  on  hearing,  that  the  people  in  Germany  are 
making  so  much  of  me  and  my  poor  doings.  I  am  not  that 
which  they  think  me  to  be,  dear  G.,  and  if  any  thing  is  done 
through  me.  all  the  honor  and  glory  belong  to  the  Lord ; 


134  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

for  I  am  one  of  His  feeblest  instruments.  Write  very  soon, 
and  pray  often  and  earnestly  for  me.  My  dear  wife,  who 
longs  to  know  you  all,  unites  with  me  in  warm  and  cordial 
love." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht's  journal,  during  the  months  of  which 
we  have  recorded  a  few  incidents,  is  very  full,  and  contains 
many  interesting  particulars  of  his  tours.  He  was  not  at 
all  turned  aside  from  his  high  calling  by  the  enjoyments  of 
domestic  life,  though  he  so  fully  estimated  them,  and  so 
completely  appreciated  the  claims  connected  with  them. 
His  winning  address,  combined  with  his  dignified  and  manly 
bearing,  inspired  the  greatest  respect  and  love  for  him  in 
the  domestic  circle,  and  also  among  his  native  Christian 
flock,  and  the  heathen  Hindus  around  him.  All  felt  that 
his  word  was  law,  but  that  his  acts  were  ever  characterized 
by  kindness  and  forbearance.  "  The  law  of  truth  was  in 
his  mouth,  and  iniquity  was  not  found  in  his  lips  ;  he  walk- 
ed with  me  in  peace  and  equity,  and  did  turn  away  many 
from  iniquity." — (Mai.  2:6.)  Among  the  Hindus,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  Bengal  in  particular,  such  a  character  is 
highly  esteemed,  and  exerts  a  powerful  influence  over  a  peo- 
ple, who  are  peculiarly  acute  and  correct  in  the  opinions 
they  form  of  the  character  of  the  Europeans,  with  whom 
they  come  in  contact.  "  It  is  true,"  they  will  say,  "  we  are 
depraved  and  untruthful ;  but  we  can  respect  those  who, 
under  the  influence  of  a  holy  religion  such  as  Christianity 
is  represented  to  be,  manifest  the  opposite  qualities." 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Weitbrecht  recovered  from  his  severe 
illness,  he  began,  with  the  youth  of  his  native  flock,  a  set  of 
lectures  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity,  at  which  one  of 
his  pupils  from  the  English  school  occasionally  attended. 
This  young  man  was  deeply  convinced  of  the  absurdity  of 
idolatry,  and  the  truth  of  the  sacred  Scriptures ;  but  his 
uncle,  with  whom  he  lived,  suspecting  his  predilection  for 


martyn's  idea  of  brahmuns. 


135 


Christianity,  behaved  very  cruelly  towards  him,  and  this 
made  him  timid  and  cautious  in  opening  his  mind  ;  but  at 
last  he  did  so,  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  earnestly  pressed  home 
upon  him  the  importance  of  decision.  It  was,  however, 
fully  two  years  before  he  gained  strength  to  make  an  open 
profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ.  Another  well-educated 
and  sensible  young  man,  who  had  been  under  Mrs.  Weit- 
brecht's  instruction  and  influence  before  her  marriage,  was 
more  quickly  wrought  upon,  being  naturally  of  a  more  sin- 
cere, open,  and  child-like  disposition. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  the  Rev.  Krishna  Mohun 
Banerjea  visited  Burdwan,  and,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the 
Rajah,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  took  him  to  call  on  him.  He  could 
not  believe  without  ocular  demonstration,  that  one  of  the 
highest  class  of  Brahmuns  had  adopted  another  religion; 
and  it  led  to  a  great  deal  of  interesting  discussion  on  the 
subject  with  him  and  his  family,  which  reminded  the  mis- 
sionary of  a  remark  made  by  the  sainted  Martyn,  that  "  if 
ever  he  lived  to  see  a  native  Bengali  Brahmun  converted  to 
God,  he  would  see  the  nearest  approach  he  had  yet  witness- 
ed to  the  resurrection  of  the  dead."  Thanks  be  to  God 
the  day  has  arrived  when  such  conversions  are  no  longer 
rare ! 

A  zealous  friend  arrived  in  the  station  in  July,  who  took 
a  deep  interest  in  missionary  work,  and  conversed  much 
with  the  residents  on  the  duty  of  self-devotedness.  Under 
the  impressions  made  on  their  minds  by  this  friend's  con- 
versation. Dr.  Cheek  and  Mr.  Lang,  Christian  men,  alike 
liberal  in  spirit,  engaged  to  support  two  missionaries  in 
India,  and  to  pay  their  passage  out.  Laborers  were  sent 
for  from  Germany,  who  were  to  be  stationed  at  Sunamooky, 
a  very  populous  place  midway  between  Burdwan  and  Ban- 
coorah,  where  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  one  of  his  large  schools. 
This  plan  was  actually  carried  into  effect,  and,  at  a  subse- 


136  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

quent  period,  two  devoted  individuals  arrived  and  were 
duly  located  there,  to  the  great  joy  and  delight  of  Mr. 
Weitbrecht,  who  had  taken  the  most  active  interest  in  the 
matter,  and  very  essentially  aided  the  arrangements.  One 
of  these  was  the  intimate  friend  of  a  devoted  and  talented 
young  man,  then  in  Greece,  and  laboring  near  Mr.  Jetter, 
whose  mind  was,  at  that  period,  greatly  drawn  towards 
India  as  a  field  of  labor.  Mr.  Jetter  perceiving  this,  com- 
municated to  him  from  time  to  time  extracts  from  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  letters  to  himself.  "  The  persual  of  these  let- 
ters," writes  the  person  alluded  to,*  "  was  very  useful  to 
me,  both  because  they  were  instructive  to  me  on  a  point  in 
which  I  was  so  interested,  and  because  the  transparent  can- 
dor of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  character,  and  the  cheerful  vigor 
of  his  faith  refreshed  my  mind,  at  the  same  time  that  they 
gave  me  a  very  high  idea  of  his  wisdom  and  his  zeal."  Thus 
was  he  using  every  available  means  in  bringing  his  influence 
to  bear,  directly  and  indirectly,  upon  the  work  which 
engrossed  all  the  energies  of  his  own  soul. 

His  brother  Haberlin,  having  been  brought  to  the  gates 
of  the  grave  by  sickness,  came  up  to  Burdwan  for  refresh- 
ment and  change  ;  and,  when  he  was  a  little  stronger,  Mr. 
W.  accompanied  him  to  Bancoorah.  He  left  home  with 
anxiety,  on  account  of  the  delicate  state  of  his  wife's  health, 
but  had  a  useful  and  profitable  visit.  He  was  hastened  back 
by  alarming  reports  from  Dr.  Cheek,  and  "  on  arriving,"  he 
writes,  "  I  found  her  so  reduced  by  fever  as  to  be  hardly 
able  to  utter  an  audible  word.  Two  days  later  she  seemed 
to  be  entering  eternity,  but  was  able  to  give  me  an  assur- 
ance of  her  inward  happiness.  I  spoke  much  to  her  of 
God's  great  love  to  His  children,  and  of  the  compassion  < 
with  which  Jesus  regards  them  in  their  deepest  need,  and 
prayed  beside  her,  till  a  heavenly  peace  possessed  my  soul^ 

*  Dr.  Wenger,  now  one  of  the  most  able  missionaries  in  Calcutta. 


MINGLED  EXPERIENCE. 


137 


which  seemed  ;o  communicate  itself  to  hers.  Tlie  Lord 
heard  the  prayer  and  raised  her  up,  though  she  long 
remained  weak  and  feeble.  Thus  we  are  taught  that 
we  are  on  our  pilgrim  way,  and  that  we  dwell  in  Kedar's 
tents." 

To  his  wife  :  "  The  last  two  evenings  I  had  delightful 
moments  in  prayer.  How  I  could  weep  !  My  soul  was 
overflowing  from  contrition  and  gi'atitude.  The  depths  of 
my  own  evil  heart  were  revealed  to  me,  and  1  could  under- 
stand something  of  the  free  sovereign  grace,  the  infinite  love 
of  Jesus.  Such  seasons  are  the  most  precious  I  know.  1 
could  converse  with  the  Lord  with  openness,  as  one  friend 
converses  with  another. 

"  My  feelings  are  now  quite  different  from  what  they  for- 
merly were  when  from  home,  and  the  attraction  towards 
that  beloved  place  is  so  strong,  that  if  I  were  not  engaged 
in  a  good  and  useful  work,  I  should  soon  be  with  you  again ; 
but  the  Lord's  service  stands  preeminent.  I  will  not  forget 
your  wishes  this  evening.  How  sweet  it  is,  that,  while  we 
are  absent  from  each  other,  we  can  meet  together  at  the 
throne  of  mercy  !  May  the  Lord,  by  His  Spirit,  enable  us 
to  come  often  and  draw  living  water  freely  from  the  foun- 
tain of  life ! 

"  After  penning  these  lines  to  my  dearest  earthly  friend, 
I  intend  to  preach  in  a  village  close  at  hand.  You  shall 
hear  from  me  daily.  I  am  well  in  body.  Pray  much  for 
me  that  I  may  be  useful  to  the  souls  of  many." 

In  his  journal  of  this  date  we  read  :  "  One  often  longs 
for  the  rest  of  the  heavenly  Canaan.  I  have  had  enough  to 
make  me  lift  up  my  head  for  the  '  redemption  that  draweth 
nigh'  of  late.  Among  other  trials,  a  letter  in  the  public 
papers,  evidently  referring  to  me,  and  accusing  me  of  fol- 
lowing avocations  from  which  I  derive  great  gain,  and  which 
are  to  secure  my  independency.    This  is  no  doubt  with  re- 


138  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT, 

ference  to  my  teaching  in  the  Rajah's  palace  ;  but  the  Lord 
is  my  witness  that  every  pice*  of  the  remuneration  goes  to 
the  mission,  or  for  the  good  of  others.  I  am  conscious  of  my 
straightforwardness,  though  even  some  children  of  God  have 
vrritten  hard  things  to  me.  If  I  am  reviled  I  will  suffer  it, 
remembering  Him  who  has  left  us  an  example  in  such  trials 
also."  He  was  so  misrepresented  to  his  dear  friend  Corrie, 
that  he  wrote  him  a  very  serious  letter  of  remonstrance ; 
but  on  receiving  from  him  a  reply,  in  which  he  cleared  up 
the  misrepresentations,  he  immediately  addressed  him  again 
in  his  usual  style  of  brotherly  love. 

A  morning  of  joy  followed  the  night  of  sorrow.  The 
next  entry  in  the  journal  is  a  cheering  one :  "  My  dear 
wife  is  so  much  better  that  she  accompanied  me  to  church, 
where  we  celebrated  the  dying  love  of  our  precious  Saviour ; 
and,  in  the  evening,  I  baptized  her  favorite  Muddu,  with 
whom  she  has  long  taken  so  much  pains.  It  was  a  joyful 
occasion.  The  truth  that  he  knew  so  well  theoretically,  has 
found  its  way  to  his  heart  with  power  in  the  house  of  God, 
by  the  public  preaching  of  His  Gospel.  I  have  long  observ- 
ed that  he  never  took  his  eyes  from  me  during  the  sermon, 
and  many  prayers  have,  for  months  past,  been  offered  for 
him.  The  illness  of  his  beloved  mistress  affected  him 
deeply,  and  I  believe  helped  to  decide  him.  He  went  to 
her  one  day,  and  said  in  his  modest  way  :  '  I  can  no  longer 
remain  a  Hindu  :  will  Mr.  Weitbrecht  receive  me  into  the 
Christian  flock He  exhibits  an  uncommon  degree  of 
acquaintance  with  the  Scripture,  and  Christian  doctrine, 
which  he  has  evidently  been  studying  very  diligently. 
After  I  had  addressed  the  assembled  Christians  on  the  solemn 
subject,  I  asked  the  usual  questions.  He  answered  in  a 
loud  voice,  and  with  his  whole  heart,  that  he  '  renounced 
the  devil  and  all  his  works,  and  that  he  would,  by  His  help, 


*  A  copper  coin  equal  in  value  to  a  farthing  and  a  half. 


DEVASTATING  FLOOD. 


139 


continue  Christ's  faithful  soldier  and  servant  unto  his  life's 
end.' 

In  the  following  week  Mrs.  Weitbrecht,  accompanied  by 
Mr.  Lincke,  went  to  Beerbhoom  for  the  recovery  of  her 
health  and  strength.  Dr.  Cheek  read  a  psalm,  and  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  commended  the  travellers  to  the  keeping  of 
Jehovah.  It  was  a  dreadful  journey,  during  which  the 
palanquins  had  five  times  to  be  put  on  rafts,  and  it  caused  a 
return  of  illness,  which  was  soon  increased  by  an  alarming 
report  that  followed  the  travellers,  that  Burdwan  had  been 
washed  away  in  a  flood  after  their  departure.  The  non-arri- 
val of  letters,  for  several  days,  seemed  to  confirm  the  truth 
of  the  report,  and  the  poor  invalid  and  her  friends  were 
kept  in  a  state  of  intense  anxiety,  which  was  at  length  re- 
lieved by  the  receipt  of  the  letter  which  follows  : 

"  My  best-beloved  M.  :  *****  Bless  the  Lord 
with  us,  for  we  have  been  mercifully  spared,  in  one  of  the 
most  awful  visitations  of  God's  providence  I  ever  witnessed. 
The  embankment  of  the  Damudah  broke  in  three  places  on 
Sunday,  and  the  whole  country  has  been  deluged.  On 
Sunday  afternoon  we  were  just  sitting  at  diimer,  when  I 
heard  people  outside  giving  an  alarm.  I  went  into  the 
southern  verandah,  and  the  sad  report  I  received  was  con- 
firmed by  the  distant  roar  of  the  water.  I  inquired,  and 
sent  people  to  ascertain  the  true  nature  of  the  case.  On 
their  return  I  was  told  that  the  water,  rushing  out  of  the  bed 
of  the  Damudah,  had  made  its  way  down  to  the  north-west 
into  the  Banka,  passing  by  Dr.  C.'s  house.  But  this  little 
fellow  was  unable  to  receive  so  large  a  supply,  and  com- 
menced disgorging  in  the  evening,  sending  his  surplus  into 
the  little  village  near  our  house,  where  we  visited  that  poor 
sick  boy.  I  wrote  immediately  to  Mrs.  Cheek  about  the 
girls,  whom  I  intended  to  send  as  soon  as  danger  was  at 
hand.    We  hoped  for  a  long  time  that  we  should  be  spared  ; 


140  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

but  every  minute's  delay  was  loss.  About  nine  o'clock,  1 
made  preparations  for  securing  the  most  necessary  articles 
and  provisions  in  the  house.  The  kitchen  was  cleared  ;  the 
doors  of  the  new  school  barricaded  with  earth  ;  the  stable- 
doors  likewise ;  poultry,  horses,  etc.,  were  put  in  the  veran- 
dah. After  that  I  dispatched  the  children  in  the  palanquin- 
carriage,  sending  four  men  and  lanterns  with  them ;  but, 
alas !  the  water  was  already  several  feet  deep  in  the  road, 
and  they  were  obliged  to  return.  Just  as  I  had  tied  the 
timber  to  the  trees,  I  heard  the  rushing  of  the  watery  mass 
into  the  tank ;  for  the  billows  advanced  now  with  incredi- 
ble haste  from  the  south,  because  the  water  no  longer  found 
room  towards  the  Banka.  In  a  few  minutes  our  tank  was 
filled  and  the  report  of  it  put  me  in  very  lively  remembrance 
of  the  Rhine-fall  at  SchafFhausen.  And  now  the  water  came 
rolling  through  the  garden  towards  the  house,  and,  in  one 
instant,  we  were  surrounded  by  the  furious  element.  Our 
native  Christians  fled  to  Mr.  Lincke's  empty  house,  and  I 
hastily  made  a  ladder  ready  to  ascend  on  the  top,  if  the 
water  should  reach  the  floor.  The  people  in  the  villages 
around,  with  their  cattle,  placed  themselves  upon  the  emi- 
nences round  tanks,  spending  two  miserable  nights  in  this 
distressing  situation.  Their  lamentations,  mingled  with  the 
roaring  of  the  waves,  the  bleating  of  their  cattle,  and  the 
falling  of  the  cottages,  which  produced  a  sound  similar  to  dis- 
tant thunder,  were  really  heart-rending.  In  the  mean  while 
the  water  rose  rapidly,  so  much  so  that,  about  day-break,  I 
could  calculate  if  it  did  so  in  equal  measure  a  little  longer, 
we  should  have  it  in  the  house  about  8  p.m.  I  now  felt  ex- 
ceedingly distressed.  Almost  all  our  people  had  stolen 
themselves  away,  going  over  to  Lincke's  house,  and  I  found 
it  impossible  to  remove  and  secure  every  thing  against  the 
water.  The  ladder  was  now  put  up,  and  the  first  business 
was  the  removal  of  vessels  and  eatables  to  the  roof  of  the 


CHRISTIAN  HEROISM. 


141 


house.  In  my  fear  and  anxiety  I  entreated  the  Lord  to 
spare  my  house  from  devastation  by  water,  or  at  least,  de- 
lay it  for  some  time  till  we  had  removed.  I  opened  Bogat- 
sky,  and  the  passage  met  my  eye,  '  God  is  not  far  from 
every  one  of  us.'  '  The  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all 
numbered.'  These  precious  verses  proved  an  unspeakable 
relief  and  comfort.  When  standing  on  the  top  of  the  house, 
how  visibly  could  I  realize  to  myself  the  dreadful  time  when 
the  whole  world  was  destroyed  through  the  wickedness  of 
man !  No  pen  can  give  a  description  of  the  scene,  and  it 
being  night  made  every  thing  seem  more  awful.  The  mats 
were  now  taken  off  the  floors  and  rolled  together  ;  the  linen 
and  clothes  exchanged  from  the  lower  drawers  into  the 
higher  ones ;  the  furniture,  books,  etc.,  were  placed  upon 
the  tables.  I  provided  some  bamboos  and  mats  to  make  a 
kind  of  tent  upon  the  roof  for  shelter.  Took  a  cup  of  tea  at 
eight,  but  the  rising  flood  drove  me  away  in  haste.  Kitty 
and  Emily  were  a  great  comfort  to  me ;  these  good  girls 
labored  assiduously,  securing  the  linen  and  doing  every 
thing  in  their  power  to  assist  me.  About  ten  o'clock  a.m. 
I  saw  some  person  on  an  elephant,  making  his  way  with  dif- 
ficulty through  the  raging  water  towards  our  house.  Upon 
his  nearer  approach,  I  found  it  was  Mr.  Millett,  (the  judge  at 
the  station.)  He  was  fearful  for  our  safety,  and  at  the  risk 
of  his  own  life,  and  with  the  full  consent  of  his  dear  wife,  he 
came  to  give  us  assistance,  or  carry  us  away  ;  but  I  could  not 
leave  my  native  flock.  The  bridge  trembled  under  the  ele- 
phant's feet,  and  it  must  have  been  a  very  short  time  after 
he  recrossed  it  that  two  of  its  arches  gave  way,  and  it  blew 
up  with  a  tremendous  crash.  May  the  Lord  bless  this  dear 
friend !  I  was  so  affected  when  I  saw  him  coming,  that  tears 
of  gratitude  rushed  to  my  eyes.  About  one  o'clock,  the 
water  remained  stationary  three  or  four  inches  below  the 
floor  of  the  verandah.    It  kept  on  the  same  level  till  about 


142         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

half-past  six  in  the  evening,  when  a  very  slight  sinking  was 
perceptible,  and  this  filled  our  hearts  with  joy  and  gratitude. 
From  then  till  eight  o'clock,  it  went  down  an  inch  and  a 
half,  and  so  it  continued  gradually  falling  during  the  whole 
night.  We  therefore  once  more  took  tea  below  stairs,  and 
sent  for  our  provisions,  bamboos,  mats,  etc.,  to  sleep  again 
in  our  own  rooms. 

"  Before  night  came  on,  the  walls  of  the  stable  began  to  fall 
in  ;  so  I  ordered  ten  men  to  drag  out  the  palanquin-carriage 
with  ropes  :  this  was  hard  work.  I  intended  sending  it  near 
Mr.  Lincke's  house  ;  but  the  current  was  too  powerful,  and 
the  people,  standing  in  the  water  four  and  a  half  feet,  could 
scarcely  keep  the  ground,  so  they  tied  the  carriage  to  the 
large  peepul  tree.  You  have  no  conception  of  the  force  of 
the  flood,  coming  down  between  our  house  and  the  out-offices. 
Some  of  our  people  who  ventured  to  cross,  to  secure  the 
beams  to  the  trees  with  ropes,  were  carried  a  great  distance 
before  they  could  keep  the  ground.  Yesterday  (Tuesday) 
morning,  the  water  had  fallen  two  feet,  and  people  began  to 
go  about  in  it.  What  a  scene  of  devastation  we  beheld  !  not 
one  native  cottage  around  us  is  standing — all  levelled  with 
the  ground.  I  had  frightful  dreams  yesterday  night — the 
roaring  of  the  current  outside,  the  stamping  of  the  horses 
in  the  verandah,  etc.,  all  assisted  my  imagination  to  form 
the  most  horrid  pictures,  and  it  was  as  if  the  water,  rushing 
through  the  house,  swept  away  every  thing  and  exposed  us 
to  imminent  danger.  Our  new  school  has  been  partly  de- 
stroyed, namely,  the  south  walls,  where  the  water  came  in 
with  the  greatest  force :  so  also  the  little  kitchen.  Yesterday 
morning,  I  received  a  note  from  Mrs.  Cheek  with  a  loaf  of 
bread ;  both  were  wrapped  up  in  a  towel,  and  thrown  across 
the  breach  of  the  arches.  Dear  people !  they  suffered  a 
great  deal  of  anxiety,  on  our  behalf  especially.  I  replied,  and 
begged  for  some  rice,  oil,  etc.,  and,  m  the  evening,  I  received 


VARIOUS  DANGERS. 


143 


a  small  supply,  which  will  last  another  day.  I  have  to  feed 
several  people  who  have  lost  their  scanty  provisions  in  the 
water.  The  town  of  Bur d wan  is  swept  off,  so  far  as  it  con- 
sisted of  mud-huts.  The  misery  is  indescribable.  Yester- 
day morning  our  house  was  a  receptacle  of  every  kind  of 
reptile.  In  my  bathing-room  I  shot  a  jackal.  I  never  saw 
such  a  collection  of  centipedes  assembled.  On  opening  the 
door  in  my  dressing-room  and  looking  after  the  water,  I 
heard  the  hissing  of  a  snake.  I  looked  about  me  on  the 
ground,  but  to  my  utmost  horror  discovered  it  in  the  Vene- 
tians, a  cobra  capella,  erecting  its  head  and  hissing  at  me  in 
a  frightful  manner,  a  few  inches  from  the  spot  where  I  had 
been  standing  for  some  minutes.  How  providentially  was  I 
preserved  from  danger  !  I  immediately  loaded  my  gun, 
and  with  the  first  shot  knocked  off  its  head,  which  flew 
away  to  a  distance  of  six  feet.  On  opening  another  door  in 
your  dressing-room,  I  discovered  another  snake,  beautiful  to 
look  at,  all  covered  over  with  fine  blue  spots  and  stripes  ; 
but  this  I  was  informed  is  the  most  dangerous  kind — its  bite 
will  destroy  human  life  in  a  few  minutes.  I  have  preserved 
both  the  latter  and  the  head  of  the  first  in  spirits  of  wine. 
The  water  is  now  rapidly  abating,  and  I  hope  this  evening,  I 
shall  be  able  to  look  about  a  little.  We  are,  thanks  be  to 
our  heavenly  Father,  quite  well  except  Maria ;  but  I  trust 
she  will  soon  be  better.  I  have  just  received  another  note 
from  Mrs.  Cheek,  with  rice  and  a  loaf  of  bread,  so  I  send  this 
letter  to  have  it  sent  to-morrow,  as  the  dak*  goes.  The  people 
are  now  crossing  over  the  broken  part  of  the  bridge  by  the 
help  of  a  rope,  the  hands  performing  the  duty  of  feet.  I  feel 
rather  worn  out  from  fatigue  and  anxiety,  but  this  will  soon 
pass  away.  A  hoarseness  in  my  throat  prevents  me  speak- 
ing loud.  I  hope  you  will  not  come  down  in  this  water ;  the 
roads  are,  in  many  places,  quite  broken  up,  just  as  they  are 


*  The  post. 


144  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

round  our  house :  you  had  better  wait  a  few  days  longer, 
though  I  should  like  very  much,  and  long  to  have  you 
again  at  my  side.  We  will  see  how  things  can  best  be  ar- 
ranged. Give  my  very  kind  regards  to  all  around  you. 
Ever  your  most  faithful  and  affectionate  husband, 

"  J.  James  Weitbrecht." 

"If  you  can  get  some  donations  for  our  poor  native 
Christians,  who  are  without  food  and  habitation^  they  would 
be  most  welcome.  They  are,  at  present,  sleeping  on  the 
floor  of  our  native  chapel,  but  it  is  very  damp,  having  been 
thoroughly  inundated.  Mr.  Lincke's  house,  lying  on  the 
highest  spot  in  the  compound,  has  not  suffered,  and  was 
indeed  a  place  of  refuge  for  the  Christians." 

The  above  letter  conveys  to  the  reader  a  vivid  idea  of  the 
anxiety  and  distress  to  which  the  faithful  missionary  was 
exposed.  The  children  he  refers  to,  were  four  little  girls 
from  a  distant  part  of  India,  two  of  whom  were  orphans, 
who  were  residing  in  his  family  for  two  years,  to  be  educat- 
ed and  trained  for  future  usefulness  by  his  wife.  This  awful 
visitation,  though  at  the  time  very  trying,  and  productive  of 
much  misery  and  suffering,  was  overruled  for  good,  as  it 
regarded  the  mission.  In  a  case  of  such  extreme  distress,  the 
sympathy  of  many  was  aroused  ;  and  the  Society,  upon  hear- 
ing of  the  event,  immediately  sent  500  Rs.  to  be  divided 
among  the  sufferers,  to  assist  them  in  repairing  their  losses. 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  took  the  opportunity,  afforded  by  the  entire 
destruction  of  every  building,  to  rearrange  the  compound 
on  the  most  orderly,  beautiful,  and  healthful  plan,  so  that  it 
has,  ever  since,  been  quite  remarkable  for  its  salubrity. 
Each  Christian  received  a  donation  of  10  Rs.,  with  permis- 
sion to  build  his  dwelling  as  large  or  as  small  as  he  liked,  on 
condition  that  he  complied  with  certain  rules  laid  down  for 
the  preservation  of  uniformity  in  the  new  native  village.  It 


NEW   CHRISTIAN  VILLAGE. 


145 


was  arranged  to  be  built  so  as  to  form  a  right  angle  on  two 
sides  of  the  beautifhl  tank,  which  is  three  hundred  and  thirty 
feet  square.  A  spot  of  ground  was  allotted  to  each  family 
before  their  houses,  to  be  cultivated  as  a  garden.  The 
mission-houses  lie  towards  the  centre  of  the  compound,  at  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  yards  from  each  other.  The 
burial-ground,  the  school-houses,  the  church,  are  all  suitably 
placed,  and  all  find  ample  room,  in  no  way  interfering  with 
each  other.  The  inundation  was  also  the  immediate  occasion 
of  the  filling  of  the  orphan  school,  both  from  the  district 
immediately  around,  and  from  the  lower  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, where  the  floods  of  the  present  season  had  completed 
the  destruction,  which  had  been  begun  in  the  hurricane  of 
May  of  the  former  year.  The  same  kind  friend  who  had 
stirred  up  the  zeal  of  Dr.  Cheek  and  Mr.  Lang  again  ap- 
peared at  this  crisis,  and  rendered  his  efficient  help  ;  and  the 
result  was,  that,  in  a  few  weeks,  the  asylum  was  filled  with 
some  forty  starving  orphans,  who  at  first  resembled  living 
skeletons.  For  many  months,  the  constant  care  of  the  phy- 
sician and  the  nurse  precluded  a  regular  course  of  instruction. 
Some  of  the  children  were  beyond  recovery,  and  sunk  into 
the  grave  ;  others  rallied,  after  living  in  that  state  of  emacia- 
tion for  more  than  a  year.  This  school  continued,  from  this 
time  forward,  to  be  one  of  the  most  pleasing  and  encourag- 
ing branches  of  the  mission,  and  often  helped  to  sustain  the 
.spirits  of  the  missionaries,  when  all  beside  was  dark  and 
trying  to  their  faith.  As  frequent  reference  will  be  found  to 
it  as  we  proceed,  it  may  here  be  observed,  that  the  education 
given  in  it,  during  the  first  few  years,  was  simply  reading, 
writing,  and  useful  work ;  but  as  the  intellectual  capacities 
of  the  children  developed,  they  were  taught  grammar, 
geography,  history,  writing,  ciphering,  and  attention  was 
paid  to  general  mental  cultivation.  A  select  number  of  girls 
were  trained  for  teachers,  to  whom  instruction  in  English 
7 


146  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

was  imparted ;  and  an  infant-school,  afterwards  attached  to 
it,  and  which  contained  above  sixty  children  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Weitbrecht's  death,  found  instructors  entirely  from 
among  those  who  had  been  thus  brought  up. 

But  the  inundation  was  not  the  only  trial  of  this  eventful 
month.  In  the  midst  of  the  distress  caused  by  it,  the  sad 
news  reached  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  of  the  sudden  decease  of  one 
of  his  best  and  most  zealous  supporters  at  Bancoorah,  Mr. 
Mac  Ritchie,  whose  friendship  had  been  very  pleasant  to  him. 
"  What  this  good  man  has  done  for  the  extension  of  Christ's 
kingdom  during  these  last  two  years,  is  written  in  heaven," 
he  writes  ;  "  and  he  is  gone  to  receive  his  reward.  I  was 
always  received  by  him  as  a  Christian  brother,  and  many  a 
blessing  was  granted  us  in  our  united  prayers.  The  pros- 
perity and  success  of  our  schools  at  Bancoorah  must,  in  a 
great  measure,  be  attributed  to  him,  who,  at  regular  inter- 
vals, went  to  inspect  them  during  my  absence.  Dear  Lang 
was  with  him  at  his  death-bed,  and  when  he  asked  him  how 
he  felt,  he  replied,  '  I  die  gladly,  all  fear  is  gone  ;'  his  reliance 
was  on  Jesus,  and  his  gain  is  great ;  but  my  heart  bleeds  for 
his  poor  widow  and  fatherless  child,  who  are  in  Europe.  A 
few  hours  later  I  had  another  Job's  message,  the  sad  news 
of  miy  dear  wife  being  very  ill  again  at  Beerbhoom,  and  I 
must  hasten  there."  His  wife  continued  subject  to  repeated 
attacks  of  fever  through  the  unhealthy  condition  of  the  mis- 
sion-house ;  and  the  same  party,  who  had  before  attacked 
him  through  the  public  papers,  now  again  gave  out  that 
"  the  new  school  would  never  prosper,  being  begun  in  vain- 
glory and  from  improper  motives."  He  writes  :  "  Many 
prayers  have  I  poured  out,  and  many  tears  have  I  shed 
before  the  Lord,  during  the  past  two  months,  but  all  is  a 
necessary  discipline,  sent  in  tender  love.  '  I  am  He  that 
justifieth  thee.'  The  adversaries  can  only  insult  so  long  as 
He  permits,  and  being  reviled  I  will  bless,  being  persecuted 


CLOUDS  IN  THE  FIRMAMENT. 


147 


I  will  suffer  it.  Moses  was  the  meekest  man,  and  he  knew 
the  trials  of  the  camp,  even  beyond  those  of  the  wilderness." 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remark,  that  these  unkind  and  unjust 
aspersions  never  injured,  or  at  all  affected  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
reputation,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Society  or  his  friends. 

In  September,  the  kind  and  valuable  friend  who  had  made 
such  an  effort  to  save  the  mission  family  at  the  time  of  the 
inundation,  became  dangerously  ill,  and  the  result  was  his 
translation  to  a  better  world.  He  had  supported  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  boys'  schools  at  Burdwan  entirely  himself 
and  his  widow  continued,  for  many  years,  her  aid  to  the 
girls'  school.  Thus,  by  degrees,  that  interesting  circle,  which 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  found  on  his  first  coming  to  Burdwan  and 
Bancoorah,  was  broken  up,  and  such  a  one  was  never  formed 
again. 

He  thus  writes  to  one  of  his  brothers : 

{Translation.) — "We  have,  I  assure  you,  our  share  of 
conflict  and  trouble.  This  belongs  to,  and  forms  a  part  of  our 
walk  by  faith.  Jesus  went  through  suffering  to  glory,  and 
so  must  we ;  but  if  the  water  of  life  be  supplied  by  Him  to 
refresh  us,  we  shall  be  enabled  to  endure  the  heat  and  the 
lire  without  being  burned.  There  will  always  be  clouds  in 
our  firmament  here,  but  the  sun  breaks  though  them  in  due 
time.  Let  us  only  be  concerned  to  obtain  a  purifying  while 
we  are  in  the  furnace,  then  will  our  gain  be  gi'eat."  He 
then  goes  on  to  details,  and  adds :  "  From  all  this  you  will 
see,  that  we,  like  other  pilgrims,  often  long  for  the  mansions 
of  peace  and  rest.  Oh !  may  we  meet  again  there,  dear 
brother !  Let  us  be  diligent  and  sow  bountifully  that  we 
may  reap  also  bountifully,  when  it  shall  be  said  of  us,  '  They 
overcame  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.'  " 

A  few  remarks  found  in  his  journal  of  this  date,  on  an 
important  point  in  connection  with  mission  work,  follow. 
The  views  he  here  expresses,  strengthened  with  his  ripening 


148         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

experience  as  a  missionary,  are  deserving  of  serious  consider- 
ation by  all  engaged,  or  contemplating  engagement,  in  the 
great  work  of  evangelization :  "  I  was  much  pleased  with 
Mr.  Williamson's  congregation  of  native  Christians.  Many 
of  them  are  truly  pious  people,  and  all  much  raised  in  moral 
character,  which  is  not  everywhere  the  case.  He  prefers  a 
few  sincere  and  humble  believers,  to  numbers  of  outward 
professors  of  religion ;  and  I  think  with  him,  that  a  mission- 
ary is  not  justified  in  introducing  people  into  the  pale  of  the 
Church,  to  give  them  the  opportunity  of  future  improvement. 
I  consider  it  of  the  utmost  importance,  that  a  newly-estab- 
lished congregation,  in  the  midst  of  a  heathen  population,  do 
universally  consist  of  such  individuals  as  feel  the  power  of 
religion  in  their  hearts,  and  evince  their  faith  in  Jesus  by  a 
blameless  and  consistent  life.  While  those  converts  who 
walk  worthy  of  the  Gospel  are  a  crown  of  rejoicing  to  the 
missionary  in  his  arduous  work,  his  heart  is  daily  burdened 
and  grieved  by  those  who  never  manifest  the  least  concern 
for  their  souls,  who  must  be  urged  and  compelled  to  attend 
divine  worship,  and  who  throw  shame  and  contempt  upon 
Christianity  by  repeated  sins." 


To  Mr,  Jowett. 

"Under  my  dear  wife's  direction,  a  promising  Hindu 
orphan  school  is  at  present  rising  up  in  our  mission,  which 
already  numbers  thirty-one  girls,  and  ten  more  are  ex- 
pected. The  building  we  have  raised  is  solid  in  construc- 
tion ;  and  contains  bed-rooms,  domestic  offices,  store-rooms, 
a  hospital,  and  apartments  for  the  superintendent  attached. 
A  fine  piece  of  ground  is  inclosed  around  it  by  a  high  wall, 
in  which  a  little  tank  has  been  dug,  a  very  necessary  addi- 
tion in  this  country  for  bathing  and  washing.    This  is  sup- 


UNHEALTHINESS  OF    THE  MISSION. 


U9 


plied  with  water  from  the  large  tank.  The  arch  erected  over 
the  channel  which  conducts  the  stream,  gives  the  interior  of 
the  place  quite  a  picturesque  appearance.  Besides  the  ben- 
efit of  a  Christian  education,  the  children  enjoy  a  thorough 
training  in  domestic  employments  and  industrious  habits,  and 
perform  all  the  work  of  the  school  among  themselves.  The 
Lord  is  smiling  upon  our  endeavors,  and  we  have  the  joy  of 
seeing  that  what  we  began  in  faith  is  supported  by  His  hand. 
We  receive  the  necessary  supplies  as  they  are  wanted. 
Some  of  our  friends  have  doubled  their  subscriptions,  and 
two  of  our  ladies  gave  £25  a  year  each,  others  very  hand- 
somely. The  building  and  wall  cost  above  £100,  but  all  is 
paid  for ;  and  we  purpose,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  raise  a 
similar  institution  for  boys.  Thus  you  see,  I  am  following 
your  good  advice,  to  raise  subscriptions  and  find  help  for 
our  work  from  every  quarter,  and  I  have  indeed  been  suc- 
cessful, both  among  Europeans  and  natives.  If  the  heart  is 
set  upon  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  it  is  a 
little  thing  to  Him  to  raise  the  needful  means. 

"  This  place  has  become  very  unhealthy  since  the  dreadfiil 
inundation;  and  my  wife,  in  particular,  suffers  severely. 
Our  house  is  so  exceedingly  damp  below,  that  I  have  asked 
permission  to  build  a  sleeping-room  on  the  roof.  Nothing 
destroys  the  health  of  a  European  in  Lidia  sooner,  than 
dwellmg  in  a  damp  house  :  ours  is  so  to  such  a  degree,  that 
we  can  keep  no  mats  on  the  floor,  they  get  rotten  in  a  month. 
Almost  every  individual  in  our  native  congregation  has 
fallen  ill ;  and  we  have  daily  to  administer  medicine  to  our 
own  people  as  well  as  to  our  heathen  neighbors,  who  fre- 
quently seek  our  aid.  I  am  so  glad  and  thankful  I  had  the 
opportunity  of  studying  the  art  of  healing  in  London  ;  for 
though  my  knowledge  is  imperfect,  I  can  constantly  turn  it 
to  account.  Every  missionary  would  do  well  to  obtain  this 
knowledge  if  he  can. 


150  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMBS  WEITBRECHT. 

"  Our  present  Bengali  chapel,  consisting  of  four  walls  with  a 
thatched  roof,  is  not  calculated  for  a  place  of  worship,  and 
I  should  like  to  erect  a  commodious  building.  Perhaps  you 
will  say,  begin  in  faith ;  but  I  almost  doubt  being  able  to 
raise  £400  or  more  for  one  object.  There  are  so  few  Euro- 
peans hereabout ;  and  at  Calcutta,  the  bounty  of  the  Christ- 
ian public  naturally  flows  in  local  channels. 

"  The  bearer  of  this  is  our  beloved  father  in  Christ  and 
venerated  friend,  Archdeacon  Corrie.  His  loss  will  be  great 
to  our  cause  in  this  part  of  India ;  but  we  trust  the  Lord 
will  make  him  a  blessing  to  others.  He  is  a  pattern  of  a 
missionary  himself,  in  humility,  zeal,  devotedness,  and  self- 
denial.  May  the  Lord  raise  up  others  like  him  who  may 
resemble  as  fully  their  Master,  Christ." 

In  November,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  again  visited  Bancoorah, 
to  which  place  his  zealous  friend,  Mr.  Lang,  had  now  remov- 
ed. It  was  a  most  refreshing  and  encouraging  visit.  A  regi- 
ment had  for  some  time  been  stationed  there,  on  account  of 
some  warlike  demonstrations  from  the  hill-tribes  towards  the 
west ;  and  the  officers  were,  in  some  degree,  favorable  to 
missionary  efforts,  and  aided  him  in  his  various  plans.  A 
collection  was  made,  and  appropriated  to  supplying  the  poor 
orphan  girls  with  warm  blankets  for  the  winter,  and  he  had 
several  opportunities  of  usefulness  among  the  drummers 
connected  with  the  regiment,  a  very  neglected  set  of  people 
who  are  Christians  by  name,  but  as  ignorant  as  the  heathen, 
and  even  more  neglected.  These  humble  people,  in  their 
gratitude,  voluntarily  offered  to  become  contributors  to  the 
mission  according  to  their  means,  and  brought  a  list  of  sub- 
scribers' names  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht.  These  subscriptions 
amounted  to  six  rupees  a  month.  Mr.  Lang  engaged  to 
begin  and  carry  on,  at  his  own  expense,  an  English  school  in 
addition  to  the  vernacular,  and  a  schoolmaster  was  obtained 
and  set  to  work.   James,  the  pious  native  catechist,  who  pre- 


DEATH-BED  OF  A  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN. 


151 


sided  over  the  mission,  performed  his  duties  very  satisfacto- 
rily, and  was  zealous  in  preaching  among  the  natives ;  and 
all  seemed  happy  and  animated  by  a  spirit  of  love  and 
peace. 

But  on  his  return  to  Burdwan,  a  new  trial  of  faith  awaited 
him.  The  interesting  convert  Benjamin  was  taken  ill  of 
fever,  which  soon  assumed  a  dangerous  aspect,  and  ran  a 
rapid  course.  On  Sunday,  after  returning  jfrom  church, 
where  the  Lord's  Supper  had  been  celebrated,  Peter,  a 
catechist,  who  loved  and  tended  him  as  a  father,  came  to  the 
mission-house  and  expressed  his  fear  that  death  was  near. 
Mr.  Knorpp,  who  had  come  down  from  Benares  to  be  mar- 
ried, was  present  when  this  message  came,  and  cheered  him 
by  his  brotherly  sympathy.  The  family  went  at  once,  and  a 
most  affecting  conversation  around  the  couch  of  the  dying 
youth  ensued.  "Are  you  willing  to  die,  Benjamin?"  inquired 
his  pastor.  "Oh!  yes;  I  long  for  heaven."  "But  have  you 
a  sure  hope  of  being  admitted  there  f  "I  have."  "Do  you 
think  your  sins  are  forgiven?"  "  Oh!  yes;  I  have  a  Saviour 
— Christ  died  for  me."  "  Do  you  then  believe  he  is  your 
Redeemer  ?"  "  I  do  believe  it,  He  is  the  Saviour  of  all  who 
come  to  Him."  The  poor  youth  then  broke  out  into  fervent 
prayer,  closing  his  eyes  and  joining  his  hands :  "  O  Savi- 
our !  I  have  no  friend  but  Thee.  O  my  blessed  Lord ! 
send  Thy  holy  angels  to  take  me  to  heaven  !  Look  on  me. 
When  wilt  Thou  come  1  Come,  Lord  Jesus ;  come  quickly." 
"  I  have  no  friend  but  Thee,"  he  repeated,  again  and  again,  in 
English  and  Bengali.  All  around  his  bed  were  melted  into 
tears ;  and  when  he  opened  his  eyes  and  saw  this,  especially 
that  his  beloved  mistress  was  weeping,  he  exclaimed :  "  Oh ! 
my  dear  lady  is  weeping  for  me !  You  have  been  to  me 
more  than  a  mother ;  you  have  loved  me  truly ;  but  do  not 
cry."    He  then  seized  her  hand  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips, 


152  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  was  so  overcome  that  the  tears  streamed  down  his  own 
pale  cheeks.  He  addressed  the  native  Christians  very 
solemnly,  especially  the  girl  to  whom  he  was  engaged  in 
marriage,  whom  he  continually  exhorted  to  pray  and  live  as 
a  Christian.  He  became  delirious  after  this ;  and  "two  days 
later,"  writes  Mr.  W.,  "  on  returning  from  a  village,  where 
I  had  been  to  preach  the  glad  tidings,  my  wife  met  me  with 
the  sad  news  that  all  was  over.  I  mourned  for  him  as  a 
father  for  his  son ;  but  he  is  with  the  faithful  shepherd,  and  I 
hope  to  meet  him  again  among  the  host  of  Hindus,  who  are 
gathering  before  the  Lord  in  glory.  At  his  burial  I  perceived, 
with  thankfulness,  what  a  deep  and  general  impression  had 
been  made  on  our  whole  congregation,  as  they  surrounded  the 
grave.  It  was  very  difficult  for  me  to  read  the  service,  and  I 
was  often  obliged  to  stop  and  give  way  to  tears.*  Dear  Arch- 
deacon Corrie  expressed  his  sympathy  with  my  dear  wife  in 
his  most  tender  and  affectionate  way,  but  told  her  she  must 
rejoice  rather  than  sorrow.  She  has  been  permitted  to  see, 
in  the  first  year  of  her  labors  at  Burdwan,  what  many  have 
labored  long  for  and  have  not  seen. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht's  annual  report  for  this  year  mentions 
eighty-nine  individuals  as  composing  his  Christian  flock,  and 
adds:  "The  congregation  now  presents  a  more  pleasing 
aspect  than  it  has  ever  yet  done ;  the  women  particularly 
have  improved  in  industry,  order,  and  general  consistency. 
Several  have  learned  to  sew  and  knit,  and  come  forward  of 
their  own  accord  to  seek  employment.  The  vernacular 
schools,  now  under  Mr.  Lincke,  have  suffered  severely  from 

*  A  memoir  of  this  dear  youth  was  drawn  up  and  published  in  the 
Calcutta  periodicals.  It  excited  so  much  interest  in  the  missionary  cir- 
cle, that  Mr.  Morton,  one  of  the  best  BengaU  scholars,  translated  it,  and 
it  was  adopted  by  the  Calcutta  Tract  Society,  and  published  as  one  of 
their  series  of  tracts.    Thus,  "  he  being  dead  yet  speaketh." 


MISSION  AT  BANCOORAH. 


153 


the  effects  of  the  inundation,  but  still  contain  five  hundred 
and  fifty  boys ;  and  several  respectable  natives  subscribe 
towards  their  support.  The  mission  at  Bancoorah  presents 
a  very  encouraging  aspect ;  three  hundred  and  fifty  boys  in 
vernacular,  and  a  large  number  in  the  English  school,  all 
supported  by  the  gifts  of  Christian  fi:iends." 


7* 


154         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Extensive  Tour  with  Three  Brethren — Birth  of  a  Daughter — Baptism  of 
a  Brahmun  Youth — Letter  to  him — Illness  from  Exposure  to  the  Sun 
— Visit  to  Calcutta — Escape  from  Dangerous  Accident  at  Bancoorah 
— Another  Tour — Fever. 

1835— IBS'?. 

On  New  Year's  day,  1835,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  wrote  to  his 
dear  friend,  Mr.  Jowett : 

"  The  cold  season  has  set  in,  after  eight  months  of  broil- 
ing heat,  in  which  every  one  must  have  his  share  of  suffering. 
We  have  now  a  little  European  energy  about  us,  and  I  am 
expecting  some  of  our  brethren  to-morrow,  to  accompany 
me  on  an  excursion  towards  the  west  of  this  district,  in  a 
hilly  country,  where  no  missionary  ever  preached  the  Gospel. 
In  order  to  move  as  easily  as  possible,  and  to  get  access  to 
all  classes,  we  shall  accommodate  ourselves  to  the  habits  of 
the  Hindus.  Rice  and  curry  will  be  our  food;  and  a  native 
cottage,  or,  where  that  can  not  be  procured,  a  small  tent,  will 
afford  us  shelter  for  the  night.  We  take  ten  thousand  tracts 
with  us,  for  distribution  among  all  who  can  read ;  and  intend 
to  preach  Christ  in  every  town  and  village  we  pass  through 
on  our  way.  I  hope  and  pray  that  the  Lord  may  make  us  a 
blessing  to  many.  The  whole  European  world  in  India 
seems  now  interested  in  the  moral  and  religious  improve- 
ment of  the  Hindus ;  our  schools  are  patronized  by  every 


AN  EXCURSION  WITH  FOUR  BRETHREN.  155 

one ;  but  it  is  singular  to  observe,  that  few  only  recommend 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  publicly  ;  but  it  is  a  comfort  to 
me  that  those  who  do  so  are  Bible  Christians,  children  of 
God.  They  fully  agree  with  us,  that  preaching,  as  it  was  in 
the  earlier  ages  of  Christianity  so  it  is  now,  the  chief  instru- 
ment for  effecting  the  conversion  of  heathen. 

"  Our  orphan  girls'  school,  to  which  I  alluded,  is  thriving 
prosperously.  I  am  sure  many  ladies  in  England  would  be 
delighted  to  witness  the  industrious  habits  of  these  little 
creatures,  and  the  progress  they  have  made  in  learning  with- 
in a  few  months." 

"  A  few  weeks  ago,  we  had  brother  Knorpp  with  us,  and 
his  newly-married  wife,  who  will  I  trust  prove  a  true  help- 
mate to  our  dear  brother.  We  only  baptized  four  adults 
during  the  last  year.  Our  trials  are  many,  and  we  want  the 
prayers  of  our  friends  at  home." 

On  the  6th  of  January,  a  party  of  four  brethren  set  out, 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  on  the  excursion  referred  to  in  the 
preceding  letter.  It  was  Epiphany,  the  day  kept  in  remem- 
brance of  the  Saviour's  first  manifestation  to  the  Gentile 
world.  Three  of  the  party  sat  on  a  large  elephant ;  the 
fourth,  Mr.  Haberlin,  was  on  horseback.  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
gives  some  pleasing  particulars  in  letters  to  his  wife,  and  a 
full  record  is  found  in  his  journal.  Extracts  from  the  letters 
follow : 

^''January  9,  1835. — You  will  be  anxious  to  hear  of  our 
weD-being,  and  I  am  thankful  to  say  that,  so  far,  the  Lord 
has  graciously  prospered  our  journey,  and  we  are  daily 
making  known  the  way  of  salvation  to  hundreds,  I  may  say 
sometimes  to  thousands.  Our  accommodations  are  as  com 
fortable  as,  in  our  present  locomotive  life,  we  can  expect. 
Our  tent  is  just  large  enough  to  contain  our  four  palanquins, 
in  which  we  sleep.  The  camp-table  and  chairs  can  also  find 
a  place  in  the  middle.    I  wish  you  could  enjoy,  with  us,  the 


156  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

fine  scenery  and  pure  air  of  this  beautiful  country.  It  is  so 
cold  in  the  morning  that  I  can  scarcely  hold  my  pen,  and  I 
need  more  blankets,  but  do  not  send  any,  for  the  messenger 
would  never  find  us  out.  I  will  give  you  a  sketch  of  our 
progress.  First,  to  Kundakos,  where  our  bearers  and  peo- 
ple had  to  be  drilled  into  order ;  for  they  manifested  a  dis- 
position to  drunkenness.  There  we  preached  of  course,  and 
from  thence  proceeded  to  Indore,  a  town  of  twenty  thousand 
inhabitants.  We  all  preached  in  every  direction,  and  distri- 
buted five  hundred  tracts.  Thursday  we  went  on  to  another 
very  large  place,  where  the  scenery  became  fine  and  pictu- 
resque. We  are  surprised  to  find  so  large  a  proportion  of 
people  who  can  read,  and  they  are  all  anxious  to  obtain 
books  ;  indeed  we  might  distribute  two  thousand  to  advan- 
tage every  day.  We  shall  give  up  Beerbhoom,  as  we  find 
enough  to  do  where  no  missionary  ever  came.  Haberlin 
fills  his  pockets  with  tracts,  which  he  distributes  to  those  he 
meets  as  he  rides  along  on  horseback.  Our  faces  have  suf- 
fered from  the  cold  wind,  and  our  lips  are  cracked  and  bleed- 
ing ;  but  this  little  inconvenience  will  soon  be  over,  and  we 
are  very  happy,  and  entreat  you  to  pray  much  for  us.  I 
remember  you  continually  in  this  way.  Ask  for  me  that  I 
may  be  kept  in  a  humble,  devout  frame  of  mind,  which  is 
necessary,  not  only  for  my  own  soul's  prosperity,  but  for  the 
effectual  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  The  silvery  rays  of  the 
raoon  are  so  beautifying  the  scenes  of  nature  around  our  little 
encampment,  that,  for  a  moment,  one  is  reminded  of  para- 
dise. You  shall  hear  again  from  Bancoorah.  Send  us  three 
thousand  more  tracts  to  meet  us  there.  We  have  every 
reason  to  take  courage,  and  go  on  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
Pray  do  not  work  too  much.  The  Lord  bless,  comfort,  and 
strengthen  you,  and  cause  '  the  light  of  His  countenance  to 
shine  upon  you.'  " 

"  The  next  Rajah  we  found  offered  us  a  nuzzur  (present) 


ORIENTAL  POLITENESS. 


157 


of  five  rupees  m  true  oriental  stvle.  and  we  touched  it  in 
token  of  our  acceptance  of  his  kind  attention.  He  was 
very  polite,  and  visited  us  in  the  evening  in  full  dress.  His 
questions  showed  him  to  be  an  intelligent  man.  He  asked 
us  if  we  were  mai'ried,  and  other  things  regarding  our  cir- 
cumstances. On  the  19th  we  reached  Bancoorah,  and  I  had 
three  very  busy  days,  examining  my  schools,  etc.  Here  we 
got  the  tracts  you  sent,  and  we  are  now  at  Sunamooky, 
the  largest  place  in  this  district,  containing  between  thirty 
and  forty  thousand  inhabitants.  Here  our  preaching  was  as 
usual  well  attended ;  and  I  found  oui-  school  in  a  pleasing 
state  of  progress.  Very  few  of  your  letters  have  reached  us, 
but  we  hope  to  get  them  to-morrow.  TTe  are  now  nearing 
home,  that  dear  place ;  the  thermometer  of  my  afiections 
rises  higher  and  higher,  as  we  approach  it.  May  the  Lord 
keep  us  and  sanctify  our  souls,  that  om-  union  may  daily 
prove  a  blessing  to  each  of  us,  on  our  short  pilgrimage  to 
heaven  !  The  pitching  of  our  tent  in  the  evening,  and  the 
breaking  it  up  in  the  morning,  together  with  om-  daily  wan- 
derings through  fertile  vales  and  dreary  jungles,  is  a  faitliful 
and  striking  picture  of  our  few  days  upon  earth.  May  we, 
'  when  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  is  dissolved,  have 
a  building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens  !'  We  are  all  now  tired  of  our  locomotive  life,  and 
long  for  reunion  with  the  dearest  objects  of  our  affections. 
May  our  desires  after  our  heavenly  home,  and  our  diligence 
in  preparation  for  it,  be  equally  ardent  and  constant !  The 
Lord  help  us  by  his  gi-ace.  Your  account  of  the  young 
man  has  rejoiced  my  heart  and  called  forth  my  grateful 
thanks.  May  'the  Lord  make  bare  His  holy  arm  in  the 
sight  of  all  the  nations,'  and  give  us  many  souls  for  our 
hire  !  All  unite  in  kind  love.  Mr.  Gogerly  enjoys  his 
tour  much." 

The  missionary  party  halted  next,  at  a  town  o'  ■^wenty 


158  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

thousand  inhabitants,  where  they  spent  another  profitable 
Sabbath,  "  preaching  to  hundreds  and  hundreds  the  blessed 
Gospel,  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  town,"  and 
multitudes  visited  them  afterwards  in  their  tent.  Brahmuns 
and  Pundits  also  came  alone,  and  most  interesting  dis- 
cussions occurred,  in  which  Mr.  Lacroix  took  a  prominent 
part.  Thus  it  continued  to  the  end  of  the  month,  when 
they  reached  home,  having  travelled  over  a  tract  of  country 
of  at  least  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  distributed  more 
than  sixteen  thousand  tracts,  and  preached  the  Gospel  to 
thousands  who  had  never  heard  of  it  before,  and  who  alas  ! 
did  not  soon  hear  it  again ;  for  though  Mr.  Weitbrecht  fully 
purposed  to  repeat  his  visit  to  the  same  tract,  to  water  and 
nourish  the  tender  plant  which  seemed  ready  to  spring  up, 
other  calls,  and  the  desire  to  sow  the  seed  in  other  localities, 
prevented  him  from  ever  repeating  the  journey,  on  the  same 
extensive  plan.  Thus  it  is,  that  the  one  evangelist  among 
so  many  millions,  being  so  unable  to  follow  up  his  labors, 
seems  to  the  eye  of  sense  to  be  almost  laboring  in  vain,  and 
spending  his  strength  for  naught,  but  "  his  judgment  is  with 
the  Lord." 

In  February  "  Mr.  Deer  returned  from  Europe,"  and  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  "  prayed  earnestly  that  a  blessing  might  rest  on 
his  location  at  Krishnaghur  ;"  and  "  lastly,"  he  writes  in  his 
journal,  "  the  crowning  mercy  of  God,  in  this  eventful 
memorable  month,  was  the  birth,  on  the  26th,  of  a  little 
daughter." 

"  The  young  Rajah  of  Burdwan  visited  our  orphan  school 
the  other  day,  and  was  astonished  and  delighted  with  the 
work  of  the  children.  Such  industry  has  certainly  never 
yet  been  witnessed  among  the  females  of  this  neighborhood. 
By  the  Rajah's  earnest  request,  I  invited  him  to  visit  my 
wife  and  baoe.  He  was  much  pleased,  and  kissed  the  infant 
affectionately,  and  placed  two  gold  mohurs  (a  coin  of  10 


BAPTISM  OF  JOQOT. 


159 


Rs.  value)  one  m  each  of  her  hands.  1  never  saw  him 
more  delighted." 

On  the  15th  of  March,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  records  the  bap- 
tism of  his  dear  babe ;  and  on  the  22d,  that  of  "  Jogot,  a 
Brahmun  youth  of  much  promise,  who  was  converted  iia  the 
English  school.  He  was  baptized  in  the  presence  of  the 
English  congregation,  who  were  deeply  interested  at  so 
gratifying  a  sight,  and  he  answered  the  questions  put  to  him 
with  much  feeling.  Two  or  three  of  his  school-fellows  bid 
fair  to  follow  his  example.  This  was  a  delightful  encour- 
agement to  our  good  schoolmaster,  Mr.  D'Rozario." 

"  My  preaching,"  he  adds,  "  is  regularly  continued,  with 
frequent  signs  of  encouragement,  but  sometimes  I  meet  with 
decided  opposition."  The  alternations  in  his  own  experience 
were  not  great,  though  now  and  then  he  speaks  of  feeling 
"  almost  overwhelmed  by  a  sense  of  his  vileness  and  want 
of  devotedness,"  but  then  he  "  cried  unto  the  Lord  with  his 
whole  heart,  and  found  comfort."  Once  on  ascending  the 
pulpit,  he  "  felt  so  dry  and  barren  that  he  had  to  importune 
the  Saviour  inwardly  for  help,  all  the  time  he  was  reading 
the  service."  He  heard  him  and  strengthened  him,  and  gave 
a  blessing  to  his  sermon,  and  much  assistance  after  in  preach- 
ing again  to  his  native  flock. 

The  journal  continues :  "  Two  of  the  hopeful  lads  referred 
to  above  soon  after  visited  me  to  beg  for  Bibles,  and  I  ad- 
dressed them  very  earnestly.  The  eldest  replied :  '  O  sir  ! 
when  we  are  with  you  we  are  convinced  of  the  truth ;  but 
the  Brahmuns  dispute  with  us,  and  raise  a  thousand  objec- 
tions against  our  assertions,  and  this  fills  us  with  doubt.' 
'  Read  this  book,'  replied  I,  '  study  it  on  your  knees,  thus 
you  will  gain  light,  and  see  the  way  to  God,  and  dispute  no 
more.'  " 

On  one  of  his  visits  to  the  Rajah,  he  was  requested  by 
him  to  distribute  tracts  among  his  writers  and  servants. 


160         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHI.  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

Twenty-five  Gospels,  and  two  hundred  tracts  were  not  half 
enough  for  the  numerous  applicants.  "  What  pleased  me 
most,"  he  writes,  "-^as,  that  the  young  Prince  himself 
assisted  me  in  the  distribution,  and  when  some  were  opened 
and  read  aloud  in  his  hearing,  he  expressed  his  own  approval, 
particularly  of  one  written  in  verse."  The  weather  was  so 
hot  that  the  thermometer  stood  at  102°  in  the  Eajah's  pal- 
ace, and  Mr.  Lincke  became  very  ill  of  fever.  "  Oh  !  what  a 
precious  truth,"  Mr.  W.  writes,  "  that  there  is  a  land,  where 
the  sun  shall  no  more  smite  the  weary  traveller.  I  feel  to 
be  fading  away  like  the  grass  in  the  field."  The  next  time 
he  preached,  he  was  so  ill-treated  and  derided  that  he  had 
to  remember  the  meekness  of  Jesus;  and  he  went  home 
with  a  heavy  heart,  mourning  that  the  name  of  his  dear 
Saviour  should  be  so  much  blasphemed. 

At  the  end  of  May,  his  convert  Jogot  was  induced,  by  his 
heathen  relatives,  to  visit  them,  and  left  Burdwan  without 
notice.  Satan  is  always  busy  in  these  cases,  and  too  often 
tempts  the  weak  young  convert  successfully.  "  Events  so 
sad,"  writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  go  deep  to  the  heart,  and 
make  us  mourn ;  but  who  are  we  ?  Lord,  it  is  with  Thee, 
and  Thee  alone,  to  save  and  rescue  perishing  souls  from  the 
power  of  darkness."  He  followed  him  with  a  letter,  (a  copy 
of  which  was  preserved.)  This  letter  was  never  answered, 
and  the  poor  youth  was  lost  sight  of  for  ten  years.  It  is 
worth  transcribing : 

"  My  Dear  J ogot  :  You  little  know  the  grief  and  afflic- 
tion which  your  departure  hence  has  caused  us.  I  feel  as- 
sured you  were,  before  and  after  your  baptism,  under  the 
influence  of  divine  grace  ;  and  you  have  seen,  in  the  light  of 
truth,  that  *  there  is  no  other  name  given  under  heaven 
among  men,  by  which  we  can  be  saved,  but  that  of  Jesus.' 
You  have  experienced  the  happiness  of  following  so  good  a 


MANNER  OF  DEALING  WITH  CONVERTS.  161 


Master ;  and  are  fully  convinced  of  the  holy,  pure,  and  di- 
vine character  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  the  blessed  in- 
fluence it  exercises  upon  those  who  embrace  it.  Why,  then, 
will  you  return  again  to  the  follies  and  pollutions  of  idola- 
try? Oh!  my  dear  Jogot,  I  could  shed  a  flood  of  tears 
over  you,  now  that  you  have  left  us.  Have  you  indeed 
forsaken  Him  who  loved  you  unto  death,  who  chose  you 
as  a  monument  of  His  saving  mercy,  and  to  whom  you 
vowed  to  devote  your  whole  heart  and  life  in  baptism? 
'  Remember  from  whence  you  are  fallen,'  and  mark  what  I 
now  say  to  you.  I  believe  you  have  been  tempted  by  the 
great  enemy.  Satan  assailed  you  in  an  hour  when  you 
were  ofi*  your  guard.  I  look  upon  you  as  an  erring  sheep, 
which  has  left  the  good  Shepherd.  Will  you  remain  among 
wolves  ?  Oh  !  remember,  before  it  is  too  late,  the  conse- 
quences of  such  heedless  folly,  for  time  and  eternity.  Do 
you  think  we  have  given  you  up  ?  By  no  means  ;  our  fer- 
vent prayers  follow  you  on  your  de\4ous  path.  You  will 
have  no  rest  in  the  world  ;  and  my  hope  is,  that  you  will  one 
day  return  with  a  contrite  heart,  though  you  should  go  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth.  As  a  friend  who  loves  you,  and  de- 
sires your  eternal  happiness,  I  now  call  on  you,  in  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  return  lost  sheep,  return  into  His 
arms ;  it  is  His  voice  that  invites  you.  Let  me  assure  you 
that,  if  you  come  back  to  us,  we  will  gladly  forget  all  that 
is  past,  and  no  body  will  reproach  you  for  the  error  you 
have  committed.  We  forgive  you ;  and,  if  you  feel  sorry 
for  your  unfaithfulness,  your  Saviour  will  forgive  you  like- 
wise :  yea,  there  will  be  'joy  in  heaven'  over  a  lost  sheep 
that  is  recovered ;  then  you  will  have  peace,  and  be  happy. 
In  these  sentiments  your  kind  master  Mr.  D'Rozario,  Mr. 
Lincke,  and  your  friend  Mr.  Money,  unite  with  me. — I  am, 
your  sincere  friend,  J.  J.  W." 

This  letter  is  a  sample  of  the  tender,  earnest,  and  aflection- 


162  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ate  manner  in  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  wont  to  deal  with 
his  native  inquirers  and  converts ;  "  reproving,  rebuking, 
and  exhorting,"  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  called  for  it. 
After  his  next  trip  to  Bancoorah  he  writes :  "  This  was  a 
very  delightful  visit.  A  thriving  English  school  with  suffi- 
cient funds,  and  funds  also  raised  for  the  Bengali  schools  to 
a  considerable  amount.  Several  native  gentlemen  became 
subscribers  at  my  request,  as  well  as  the  Europeans. — ^The 
Gospel  preached  to  hundreds  of  attentive  hearers,  and  the 
schools  in  an  efficient  state.  Now,  O  Lord  !  do  Thou  bless 
these  feeble  doings ;  water  the  seed  with  the  dew  of  Thy 
grace  !" 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  was,  soon  after  this,  laid  quite  aside  by 
inflammation  of  the  membranes  of  the  brain,  caused  by 
exposure  to  the  sun.  "  A  walk  of  ten  miles,  a  fortnight 
ago,"  he  writes  to  a  sister,  "  has  affected  my  head,  though  it 
was  a  cloudy  day.  The  slightest  exertion  in  speaking 
increases  the  vertigo,  and  makes  me  ready  to  faint.  A  simi- 
lar affection,  of  an  acute  nature,  proved  fatal  to  that  excellent 
missionary,  Mr.  Adam,  soon  after  my  arrival ;  and  this  ill- 
ness has  taught  me  the  need  of  more  caution,  in  avoiding  the 
dangerous  sun  of  Bengal." 

Many  unjust  accusations  had  been  brought  against  the 
missionary  body,  by  a  truly  pious  but  mistaken  friend  who 
resided  at  Burdwan.  In  reference  to  these  hard  remarks, 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  observes,  in  a  letter  to  one  of  his  brothers  : 

{^Translation?) — "There  are  persons  who  think  that  a 
missionary  should  go  about  barefoot,  with  a  staff  in  hand,  a 
single  garment  on  his  back,  and  feed  on  a  barley  loaf  and  a 
few  small  fishes ;  and  they  affirm,  that  if  they  possessed  faith 
and  were  baptized  by  the  Spirit,  they  could  do  so.  Were 
we  in  a  country  like  Galilee,  and  natives  of  the  same,  this 
might  be  possible ;  but  it  is  not  so,  and  those  who  try  the 
experiment  will  suffer.    I  was  not  led  to  do  it  by  the  re- 


PERILS. 


163 


proaohes  of  these  mistakeif*  people,  who,  I  must  tell  you, 
ride  themselves  in  comfortable  carriages  ;  but  I  did  really 
imagine  I  might  venture  to  walk  a  few  miles  on  a  cloudy 
day  in  June,  and  the  effect  was  very  alarming.  As  I  lay  on 
my  couch,  feeling  as  if  insects  were  traversing  my  brain,  and 
an  iron  band  being  tightened  round  my  brows,  I  perceived 
how  clearly  we  may  have  to  pay  for  imitating  the  apostolic 
mode  of  acting.  '  The  laborers  are  few  so  much  the  more, 
therefore,  must  those  few  be  prudent,  and  try  to  preserve 
their  health  by  all  lawful  means.  God  knows  how  gladly  I 
would  go  on  foot,  as  the  apostles  did,  from  place  to  place, 
and  content  myself  with  the  simplest  fare  and  the  poorest 
accommodation  in  native  huts,  but  lo  !  after  one  excursion,  I 
barely  escape  with  my  life." 

Premature  exertion,  after  a  fortnight's  rest,  considerably 
increased  the  unfavorable  symptoms,  and,  during  the  next 
few  weeks,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  to  lay  his  head  on  the  couch, 
and  suffer  exceedingly  fi'om  the  fear,  that  he  would  become 
useless  as  a  missionary ;  but  the  Lord  heard  his  cry  in  the 
day  of  his  distress,  and  though  his  head  never  recovered,  so 
as  to  enable  him  to  bear  exposure  in  the  day-time  as  well  as 
he  had  done  before,  he  was  soon  permitted  to  resume  his 
Bengali  preaching ;  and  "  how  grateful  and  happy  I  feel," 
he  writes,  "  to  preach  again,  after  an  interval  of  so  many 
weeks !" 

On  his  return  from  this  trip  he  was  again  exposed  to 
much  peril.  A  dreadful  tempest  met  him  in  his  way,  and 
as  his  wife  and  Mr.  Lincke  beheld  the  raging  of  the  furious 
elements,  they  trembled  for  his  safety.  He  took  refuge 
with  a  friendly  indigo  planter  for  some  hours,  which  were 
hours  of  intense  distress  and  anxiety  to  them.  In  the  even- 
ing he  ventured  onward,  and  reached  the  Damudah  by 
daylight.  The  bearers  forded  the  first  part  of  the  stream, 
and  then  halted  on  a  sand-bank  and  hailed  for  a  boat  for  a 


164  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

full  hour,  but  none  appeared.  The  short  twilight  had  faded 
into  dark  night ;  the  rapidly-rising  current  prevented  the 
possibility  of  their  retracing  their  steps ;  the  water  had 
nearly  covered  the  sand-bank  on  which  they  stood.  It  was 
a  moment  of  suspense  and  anxiety  to  the  solitary  traveller, 
such  as  those  only  can  know  who  have  been  similarly  situat- 
ed ;  and  he  commended  himself  to  the  keeping  of  Jehovah. 
As  he  did  so,  a  little  boat  appeared,  scarcely  large  enough 
to  hold  the  palanquin,  but  it  was  necessary  to  venture  in ; 
and  they  were  in  a  moment  shot  across  the  water  like  an 
arrow,  towards  a  steep  bank,  from  whence,  as  they  ap- 
proached it,  a  mass  of  earth  fell  down,  that  well-nigh 
swamped  their  fragile  craft.  It  was  ten  feet  in  perpendicular 
height,  and  no  easy  task  to  climb  in  the  dark.  How  the 
bearers  got  up  with  the  palanquin  was  more  than  he  could 
understand ;  but  they  are  wonderfully  expert  with  their  un- 
clad bodies  and  shoeless  feet.  About  nine  p.m.  he  reached 
the  beloved  homestead  in  safety,  to  the  joy  and  unspeakable 
relief  of  those  who  awaited  him  with  such  deep  anxiety,  and 
once  more  united  with  them  in  a  song  of  praise  for  deliver- 
ing mercies. 

After  a  few  days'  sojourn  at  home,  during  which  he  was 
much  tried  by  the  serious  illness  of  his  babe  and  his  wife, 
and  led  to  cry  out  again  and  again :  "  Oh  !  for  a  spirit  of 
resignation  to  God's  will,  who  can  do  nothing  but  in  love, 
while  my  stubborn  heart  desponds  and  murmurs,  instead  of 
seeking  sanctifying  grace !"  we  find  him  once  more  in  the 
villages,  where  many  came  to  him  as  inquirers,  to  whom  he 
imparted  Christian  instruction. 

"  They  seem,"  said  he,  "  really  sincere ;  but  experience 
makes  me  more  cautious  every  day.  They  want  to  be 
impressed,  exhorted,  encouraged,  directed  constantly.  Oh  ! 
how  poor  are  a  missionary's  exertions,  if  not  powerfully 
aided  by  God's  Spirit ;  and  how  often  are  we  taught  afresh. 


VISIT  TO  CALCUTTA. 


165 


that  we  must  rely  on  His  blessing  !  I  prayed  with  my  cate- 
chists  at  night  for  this  very  earnestly." 

About  this  time  his  young  pupil,  the  Rajah,  attended 
divine  service  in  the  Bengali  chapel  for  the  first  time.  "  I 
earnestly  hope,"  he  writes,  "  it  may  be  the  beginning  of  a 
new  era.    He  and  his  brothers  were  very  attentive." 

He,  soon  after,  went  to  Calcutta,  and  while  there  attended 
both  the  bishop's  clerical  meeting,  and  the  general  mission- 
ary conference,  at  which  a  very  important  subject  was  dis- 
cussed by  a  large  assemblage  of  brethren.  This  was, 
whether  the  labors  of  the  missionaries  in  Bengal  had  been 
attended  with  proportionable  success,  considering  the  time 
and  the  means  that  were  employed  for  evangelizing  the 
Hindus.  It  was  thought  by  them,  that  when  it  is  taken  into 
consideration  how  many  missionaries  have  been  withdrawn 
after  a  short  period  by  sickness  or  death,  and  how  small  the 
actual  amount  of  labor  had  been  among  the  heathen,  the 
result  was,  on  the  whole,  as  satisfactory  as  in  other  countries, 
if  not  more  so.  Many  judicious  and  important  remarks 
were  made  by  the  brethren,  and  it  was  deeply  regretted 
that  so  small  a  number  were  actually  and  constantly  engaged 
in  preaching  the  Gospel ;  it  was  also  thought  that  the  mis- 
sionaries should  try  and  fix  on  one  grand  scheme,  and  divide 
their  work  among  themselves,  so  as  best  to  promote  it,  and 
further  the  prosperity  of  the  whole.  Success  was,  it  was 
said,  much  dependent  upon  unity  of  action,  and  every  indi- 
vidual part  must  be  made  to  bear  upon  the  entire  body. 
Above  all,  it  was  urged,  that  they  ought  to  be  more  fervent 
and  constant  in  prayer  for  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  divine 
blessing  on  their  work,  and  to  rely  on  God  more  practically, 
by  waiting  in  faith  for  that  heavenly  gift. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  spent  very  happy  days  in  the  society  of 
dear  Christian  friends,  and  missionary  brethren ;  but  he 
regretted  to  "  observe  in  many  pious  people,  and  even  in 


166  MEMOIR  OF  BEV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

some  missionaries,  a  lack  of  that  spirituality  which  spreads 
life  and  peace  around  us."  He  writes  in  his  journal :  "As  I 
sat  in  a  little  boat,  and  proceeded  to  Serampore  to  join  my 
dear  wife,  who  had  preceded  me  there,  I  felt  indisposed  to 
converse  with  those  around  me,  who  were  full  of  mirth. 
The  state  of  my  mind  was  directed  to  more  sober  views ; 
and  I  spent  the  evening  in  silent  meditation  on  my  past  days, 
my  future  prospects,  my  work  as  an  evangelist  among  the 
heathen.  I  felt  the  presence  of  Jesus,  and  longed  to  be  holy 
as  He  is  holy,  and  to  show  my  love  to  Him  in  following 
Him  from  suffering  to  glory.  Oh  !  what  it  is  to  know,  to 
feel,  and  to  be  assured  that  Jesus  loves  us !" 

We  copy  another  extract :  "iVbv.  2. — Our  kind  host,  Mr. 
Mack,  the  Baptist  missionary,  conducts  morning  and  evening 
devotion  in  his  family  in  Bengali.  His  heathen  domestics 
attend,  and  have  thus  an  opportunity  of  hearing  the  Gospel, 
and  uniting  in  prayer  to  the  true  God.  This  appeared  to  us 
both  a  very  desirable  and  useful  arrangement  in  a  mission- 
ary's family ;  and  I  determined,  upon  the  proposition  of 
dear  M.,  to  conduct  family  worship  in  Bengali  every  morn- 
ing with  our  servants,  while  she  conducts  the  same  in  Eng- 
lish, in  another  room,  for  that  considerable  portion  of  our 
family  who  do  not  understand  the  native  language.  In  the 
evening  it  will  be  as  usual.  And  when  I  am  out,  which 
happens  so  often,  she  will  go  on  as  before." 

The  whole  of  December  was  spent  in  continual  preaching. 
"  Alas !"  he  writes  "  how  little  do  those  who  ignorantly 
blaspheme  Christ's  precious  name  know,  that  '  all  power  is 
given  to  Him,  in  heaven  and  in  earth  !'  While  I  was  con- 
versing with  some  of  Satan's  priesthood,  the  Brahmuns,  a 
number  sat  at  a  distance,  ridiculing  and  sneering  at  my  Sav- 
iour, my  Bible,  and  my  efforts  to  convince  the  sinner  of  the 
error  of  his  ways.  During  my  leisure  hours,  I  read  Mar- 
ty n's  '  Life.'    Dear  Marty n  !  how  I  love  his  tender  heart 


GRACIOUS  PRESERVATION. 


167 


and  intense  love  to  his  Saviour  !  If  any  reading  besides  the 
Bible  is  calculated  to  bring  a  missionary  into  a  proper  frame 
of  mind,  while  engaged  in  his  labors  of  love,  it  is  the  '  Life' 
of  this  holy  man.  It  raised  my  mind  to  holy  aspirations 
for  the  same  spirit.  Oh !  how  I  can  feel  with  him  in  his 
griefs  and  sorrows,  being  tempted  and  tried  by  an  unbeliev- 
ing world  much  in  the  same  way !" 

To  some  kind-hearted  villagers  who,  seeing  him  tired, 
brought  him  milk  for  refreshment,  he  read  the  23d  Psalm, 
and,  expatiating  upon  the  strength  he  had  derived  to  his 
body  from  their  hospitality,  he  invited  them,  in  return,  to 
refresh  their  souls  in  the  green  pastures  of  the  good  Shep- 
herd. At  another  place,  a  Brahmun,  who  had  visited  him 
at  Burdwan,  pursued  another  course,  and  told  the  people 
wonderful  things  of  him ;  that  he  was  the  Guroo,  or  high- 
priest  of  all  the  Sahibs  at  Burdwan ;  the  instructor  of  the 
Rajah ;  and,  in  fact,  a  very  great  man.  "  Some  of  his 
descriptions  of  my  performances,"  he  adds,  "  were  really 
amusing." 

On  the  3d  of  Jan.,  1836,  he  wrote  to  his  wife  :  "I  have  to 
teU  you  of  an  event  which  will  fill  you  with  surprise  and 
gratitude,  for  I  have  been  preserved  in  a  most  dangerous 
moment.  I  returned  from  preaching  in  the  bazaar,  about 
nix  last  evening,  and  found  the  table  laid  out  for  tea.  Colonel 
K.  and  his  friend  Colonel  W.  were  still  sitting  at  their  wine ; 
but  as  it  was  cold,  they  removed  on  my  entrance  to  the 
firepide,  to  take  tea  in  a  snug  way ;  and  a  providential  move- 
ment it  was,  for  we  had  not  been  there  four  minutes  before 
the  room  presented  a  scene  of  fearful  desolation.  Hearing 
a  few  pieces  of  plaster  falling  from  the  ceilmg,  I  looked  up, 
and  at  that  very  moment  observed  a  beam  giving  way.  I 
instantly  cried  out,  Gentlemen,  leave  the  room,  the  beam  is 
coming  down  upon  us !  We  all  rushed  out,  but  had  scarcely 
crossed  the  threshold  when  a  beam,  twenty-one  feet  long, 
broke  in  the  centre,  and  fell  with  a  tremendous  crash,  accom 


168  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

p  allied  of  course  by  a  mass  of  brick  and  mortar,  which  filled 
the  house  with  a  cloud  of  dust.  Had  we  been  sitting  at  the 
table,  or  had  I  returned  a  few  minutes  later,  it  is  not  likely 
either  of  us  would  have  perceived  the  approaching  accident,  as 
the  whole  circumstance  occurred  in  a  few  seconds,  and  we 
might  have  been  killed  on  the  spot.  A  couch  was  knocked 
to  pieces,  and  every  thing  on  the  table  was  entirely  crushed. 
'  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !  who  redeemeth  thy  life  from 
destruction.'  Well  may  I  thus  sing  of  His  delivering  mercy. 
You  have  no  conception  how  the  falling  mass  thundered 
through  the  house.  Colonel  K.  acknowledges  the  hand  of  a 
heavenly  Father  in  this  gracious  preservation,  and  we 
devoutly  praised  Him  before  going  to  bed.  I  embraced  the 
opportunity  to  say  a  word  on  the  uncertainty  of  human  life, 
and  the  sudden  coming  of  the  Lord.  On  examining  the 
house,  a  beam  was  discovered  in  the  same  hollow  condition 
as  this  one,  just  over  the  Colonel's  bed,  which  might  have 
fallen  any  night.  The  white  ants  have  done  all  this  mischief. 

"  I  have  prayed  much  for  you  last  evening  and  this  morn- 
ing, after  receiving  your  letter.  May  your  own  devout 
prayerful  wishes  be  realized  for  our  souls  and  for  our  work ! 
Then  all  will  be  well,  though  our  cup  may  be  mixed  with 
sorrow.  I  do  so  long  to  be  more  holy,  more  like  Jesus ; 
and  to  become  so,  I  feel  that  more  of  the  refiner's  fire  will 
be  necessary.  On  New  Year's  night  I  could  not  sleep,  and 
found  such  great  enjoyment  in  meditating  on  all  the  joys  and 
trials  of  the  past  year,  how  grateful,  yet  how  humble,  it  made 
me  !  We  will  begin  this  new  period  afresh  in  His  name, 
and  continue  to  trust  in  His  tender  care  and  loving-kindness. 
I  think  I  have  profited  in  my  soul  on  this  trip.  The  thought 
that  both  our  hearts  are  set  on  things  above,  and  that  we 
may  hope  to  spend  our  eternity  together,  overwhelms  me 
with  gratitude.  In  a  world  of  sin,  where  mankind  are 
drowned  in  sensuality,  and  the  poor  heathen  around  us  are 


HINDUS  IMPRESSED. 


169 


perishing,  what  a  wonder  of  divine  grace  it  is  that  we  have 
been  led  to  act  and  live  for  Jesus,  and  that  we  are  not 
only  united  by  the  closest  natural  ties,  but  united  in  His 
love !" 

On  his  return  to  Burdwan,  he  records  "  preaching  in  the 
bazaar  to  an  overflowing  crowd,  who  listened  with  uncom- 
mon attention.  I  believe,"  he  adds,  "  there  are  numbers  of 
Hindus  who  feel  the  power  of  the  truth,  while  as  yet,  they 
can  not  gather  courage  to  break  the  bonds  of  a  ruinous 
idolatry." 

It  can  not  be  doubted  that  the  opinion  here  expressed  is 
correct.  Many  touching  instances  have  come  to  light,  by 
which  it  is  manifest  that  there  are  secret  believers  among 
Hindus  ; — God's  hidden  ones,  who,  in  the  hour  of  extremity, 
call  on  Him,  and  in  death  rely  on  the  atonement  of  the  only 
Saviour,  of  whom  perhaps  they  have  heard  years  before,  by 
the  passing  word  of  some  itinerant  missionary,  or  the  read- 
ing of  some  Christian  tract.  A  pious  lady  of  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht's  acquaintance  related  to  him  two  such  encouraging 
facts,  which  occurred  under  her  own  immediate  observation. 
Some  of  her  own  servants  were  heard  by  her  to  confess  their 
sins,  and  cast  themselves  on  the  mercy  of  Qirist  in  their 
departing  moments :  and  eternity  will  reveal  many  such 
instances.  Besides  this  we  know  that,  according  to  the 
unsearchable  plans  of  divine  wisdom,  every  nation  must 
have  a  preparation  for  the  reception  of  the  Gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God.  Man's  fallen  nature  becomes  so  sunk,  so 
utterly  corrupt  and  debased,  when  it  remains  for  a  succes- 
sion of  generations  imder  the  influence  of  idolatry,  that  the 
moral  power  must  be  strengthened,  before  the  people 
become  ready  to  accept  the  truth.  This  preparatory  pro- 
cess is  now  going  on  among  the  Hindus  ;  and  when  the  soil 
is  cultivated  by  continual  ploughing,  and  sowing,  and  water- 
ing, as  it  was  by  the  diligent  preaching,  accompanied  by  the 
8 


170  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


fervent  and  unceasing  prayers  of  a  devoted  laborer  like  Mr. 
Weitbrecht,  it  will,  it  must  bring  forth  fruit  in  its  season. 
To  his  bright  vision,  especially  in  the  beginning  of  his  course, 
that  season  appeared  nearer  than  it  actually  was ;  and  we 
may  yet  have  to  wait  many  a  year,  and  to  open  the  eye  of 
faith  very  wide,  and  fix  it  on  the  divine  promises  with  a 
very  steady  gaze,  ere  we  can  assure  ourselves  it  is  really 
approaching  ;  but  come  it  must,  for  "  the  Lord  is  not  slack 
concerning  His  promise,"  though  a  thousand  years  are  with 
Him,  but  as  one  day ;  and  He  would,  that  all  should  be 
brought  to  repentance,  and  to  the  acknowledging  and  belief 
of  the  truth. 

Notices  of  another  extensive  tour  follow,  in  extracts  from 
letters. 

"  I  have  thought  of  a  plan,  this  week,  to  go  through  the 
whole  district ;  visit  every  village ;  call  upon  the  respecta- 
ble people ;  distribute  the  Gospel  and  tracts,  and  preach  till 
we  can  say  the  word  of  truth  has  been  made  known  through- 
out the  whole  territory  of  the  Rajah  of  Burdwan." 

He  was  soon  after  laid  aside  by  a  lingering  attack  of  remit- 
tent fever.  When  able  to  go  from  home.  Dr.  Cheek  took  him 
to  his  house,  where  he  writes  in  his  journal :  "  '  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul !'  that  mercy  was  mingled  in  this  bitter 
cup ;  that  I  had  dear  kind  friends ;  an  attentive  doctor ; 
and  a  sweet,  affectionate  wife  for  a  nurse ;  and  that  I  was 
enabled  to  possess  my  soul  in  patience,  and  to  feel  that  the 
chastening  was  in  love.  On  the  24th  I  gave  the  first  lecture 
in  the  Bengali  chapel  after  my  illness,  and  felt  truly  gratefiil 
to  God  for  strength  to  engage  once  more  in  my  work.  I 
baptized  a  young  man  of  twenty  years,  who  has  been  nine 
months  under  instruction,  a  nice,  sensible,  intelligent  Hindu. 
I  afterwards  met  a  young  man,  educated  by  Mr.  Perowne, 
who  repeated  whole  passages  out  of  the  gospels,  and  ac- 
knowledged there  was  no  peace  in  idolatry." 


MR.  GREENWOOD  BECOMES  TUTOR  TO  THE  RAJAH.  171 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mr.  Greenwood  becomes  Tutor  to  the  Rajah — Two  Missionaries  arrive  for 
Sunamooky — Mr.  Lincke  removes  to  Calcutta — Death  of  Mr.  "Weit- 
brecht's  Child — Attends  an  important  Missionary  Conference — G-reat 
importance  of  Calcutta  as  a  Missionary  Station — Tour  incidents — Death 
of  a  Pious  Lad — Tour — ^Amusing  Anecdote — Death  of  James,  Cate- 
chist  at  Bandoorah. 

1836—1837. 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Jowett  refers  to  several  sub- 
jects of  interest : 

*  *  *  "  I  had  long  been  looking  out  for  a  proper  person, 
to  whom  I  might  transfer  the  tuition  of  the  Eajah  of  Burd- 
wan,  which  was  too  heavy  a  task  for  me  to  perform  to  my 
own  satisfaction,  besides  my  other  daily  vocations.  I  have, 
at  last,  found  such  a  person  in  the  Rev.  W.  Greenwood, 
formerly  missionary  at  Chunar.  He  was  recommended  to 
my  notice  by  Archdeacon  Dealtry,  whom  I  consulted,  and 
he  has  received  the  appointment,  with  the  full  consent  of  the 
Rajah's  family.  He  also  assists  in  the  English  chapel,  so 
that  we  have  now  three  services  weekly.  I  still,  however, 
continue  to  visit  the  family  of  the  Rajah  at  their  particular 
request,  and  hope  that  I  may  become  a  blessing  to  them ; 
they  repose  great  confidence  in  me,  and  are  always  ready  to 
listen  to  my  advice.  They  are  an  object  of  my  earnest 
prayers ;  and  I  endeavor  to  use  my  influence  for  their  best 


172  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

interests.  We  can  not  expect  the  bulwarks  of  idolatry  will 
fall  down  at  once,  but  I  a,m  sure  fall  they  will,  sooner  or 
later.  It  is  our  business  to  sap  and  undermine  its  founda- 
tions, wherever  practicable  ;  and  to  establish  righteousness 
and  truth  in  its  place.  In  this  point  of  view,  I  think  I  may 
say  my  intercourse  with  this  wealthy  family  has  already  ex- 
ercised a  beneficial  effect.  A  young  Hindu  lad,  whose  stu- 
dies are  directed  by  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  will  receive 
views,  through  the  instruction  imparted  to  him,  which  he 
little  thought  of  before  ;  and  while  we  enlighten  the  minds, 
we  must  pray  that  the  Lord  may  touch  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  by  the  power  of  His  Spirit.  Real  conversions  are 
still  rare.  I  long  to  see  a  true  awakening  ;  the  time  of  such 
an  event  would  be  the  happiest  period  of  my  life.  Our 
English  school  in  the  town  is  in  a  very  encouraging  state. 
I  began,  three  months  ago,  to  give  lessons  for  three  hours 
in  the  morning,  four  times  a  week,  on  history,  geography, 
and  divinity.  Such  a  course  of  lectures  seems  just  now 
called  for.  For  divinity,  I  chose  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans. 
A  portion  of  the  chapter  is  read  by  the  pupils,  afterwards 
an  analytical  explanation  is  given,  and  the  doctrine  illus- 
trated by  other  parts  of  Scripture.  This  being  done,  I  dic- 
tate the  leading  features  of  what  has  been  read,  in  a  few 
comprehensive  sentences.  The  boys  then  copy  them  off 
fairly,  commit  them  to  memory,  and  repeat  them  the  fol- 
lowing day.  In  my  lectures,  the  subject  under  considera- 
tion is  compared  with  Hinduism  in  its  leading  features,  the 
absurdities  of  which  thus  become  more  striking  to  the  lads, 
who  listen  with  the  deepest  interest,  and  ask  questions  which 
draw  out  further  instruction.  And  remember,  these  are  no 
Christians,  but  real  Hindus.  The  great  point  a  missionary 
must  ever  have  in  view  in  all  his  engagements,  is  the  con- 
version of  those  among  whom  he  labors.  While  I  feel  my 
inability  to  accomplish  this  change  in  one  soul,  the  privilege 


THUGGEE. 


173 


is  sweet  to  me  by  which  I  can  say, '  Lord^  help  me.  I  am 
thy  servant.'  It  is  an  especial  comfort  to  be  able  to  ask  His 
blessing  in  every  particular  case.  '  Lord,  I  am  going  to 
preach  the  Gospel  of  Thy  dear  Son  ;  accompany  my  testi- 
mony by  the  power  of  Thy  Spirit  to  the  hearts  of  the  hear- 
ers. I  am  going  to  instruct  the  young ;  bless  the  instruc- 
tion.' Laboring  thus  in  His  name,  we  may  be  happy  and 
take  courage.  The  cause  is  His,  and  not  ours.  May  we  be 
'  faithful  unto  death  !'  Our  reward  will  be  great,  and  our 
rest  sweet.  Sometimes  our  faith  and  patience  are  exceed- 
ingly tried;  at  other  times  we  are  refreshed  and  comforted. 
I  know  this  must  be.  All  the  saints  in  glory  went  there  on 
the  same  path.  My  dear  wife  is  a  sweet  help  and  solace  to 
me  in  this  work.  She  unites  in  kindest  regards  to  you ; 
and,  if  you  have  an  opportunity,  remember  me  very  kindly 
to  dear  Mr.  Bickersteth.  We  have  introduced  his  hymn- 
book  into  our  English  church.  I  wish  some  of  us  had 
enough  of  poetical  talent  to  translate  it  into  Bengali.  Your 
affectionate  brother,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  following  paragraph  from  his  journal,  while  on  a 
tour  deserves  notice  :  "  Eead  to-day  a  most  interesting  ac- 
count printed  by  government  for  the  private  information  of 
the  civil  authorities.  It  develops  the  horrid  system  of 
Thuggee.  The  Thugs  are  a  set  of  robbers  who  are  organized 
in  large  gangs,  and  travel  about  to  entice  pilgrims  and 
others  on  a  journey  ;  and  when  they  have  gained  their  con- 
fidence, they  strangle  them  with  a  handkerchief,  by  a  method 
peculiar  to  themselves ;  take  away  their  property ;  and 
bury  their  corpses.  They  have  a  patron  goddess,  and  are 
dispersed  all  over  India,  on  the  great  rivers  as  well  as  on  the 
great  roads.  They  have  their  own  vocabulary,  and  murder 
thousands  annually.  Nine  hundred  of  these  fearful  beings 
have  been  arrested,  transported,  and  hanged  within  the  last 
five  years.    One  was  brought  in  from  the  jail  by  Captain  H, 


174         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

for  my  wife  to  see ;  he  had  a  mild  countenance,  and  most 
pleasing  address.  The  tank  and  grove  opposite  our  mis- 
sion premises  at  Burdwan,  are  said  to  have  been  one  of  their 
haunts  and  burial-places."* 

A  new  scene  now  opens  in  our  history.  We  have  seen 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  tried  in  various  ways,  and  often  in  heaviness 
through  manifold  temptations.  We  must  now  contemplate 
him,  under  one  of  the  most  touching  bereavements  that  are 
permitted  to  happen  to  us  in  our  wilderness-journey,  the  sud- 
den removal  of  his  only  child,  who  was  one  of  singular 
promise  and  loveliness,  possessing  an  engaging  and  winning 
sweetness  that  had  refreshed  his  spirit  in  many  an  hour  of 
weariness.  "Whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth ;  and  what 
son  is  he  whom  the  Father  chasteneth  not  We  mark  the 
same  spirit  of  patient  submission  and  filial  acquiescence  in 
that  Father's  dealings,  in  this,  as  in  all  His  other  trials.  We 
have  the  record  in  his  own  words  : 

"  Burdwan,  November  6,  1836. 
"  My  Dear  and  Beloved  Mother  :  My  last  letter  to  you 
was  penned  beside  the  couch  of  my  dearest  wife,  after  the 
birth  of  our  little  Maria.  I  now  sit  down  again,  in  a  simi- 
lar position,  to  relate  to  you  the  history  of  a  most  eventful 
week,  of  a  week  such  as  neither  of  us  ever  passed  through 
before.  Oh !  how  wonderful  is  our  heavenly  Father,  in  His 
dealings  with  His  own  dear  children !  We  have  been  chas- 
tened most  severely ;  we  have  been  wounded  to  the  heart, 
but  we  have  not  been  killed.  No ;  the  power  of  divine 
grace,  divine  consolation  and  love,  has  supported  us,  in  a 
trial  of  the  most  painful  nature ;  and  now,  after  seven  days 
of  anxiety,  sorrow,  and  mourning,  '  we  can  sing  of  mercy 
and  of  judgment.'  Oh !  how  delightfully  has  that  text  again 
been  realized  by  us,  '  Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  but 


*  See  page  T9. 


A  CUTTING  AFFLICTION. 


joy  Cometh  in  the  morning!'  Our  sweet  darling  Maria 
now  celebrates  her  Sabbath  in  heaven ;  and  the  joy  of  our 
house  is  gone.  On  Sunday  morning  last,  she  was  taken  ill. 
I  had  gone  to  bury  the  dear  infant  of  an  English  family  here, 
and,  while  reading  the  service,  the  idea  powerfully  seized 
my  mind,  that  the  next  person  committed  to  the  grave 
would  be  my  own  child.  I  reasoned  with  myself,  but  in 
vain,  and  returned  home  much  distressed.  In  the  afternoon 
the  symptoms  became  worse,  and  fever  ensued.  I  was  lit- 
erally in  agonies,  and  could  only  cry  to  the  Lord.  The  dis- 
ease ran  a  rapid  course ;  the  night  was  restless,  and  the  dar- 
ling appeared  to  suffer  much  pain.  The  doctor  saw  her 
almost  every  other  hour,  and  used  his  utmost  skill ;  but  the 
strength  of  this  healthy,  sprightly  little  creature  rapidly  faded 
away.  After  daybreak  on  Tuesday,  she  was  more  quiet, 
but  appeared  much  worn  out.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  hour 
when  her  mother  came  to  me  in  tears,  and  begged  me  to 
come  and  see  her,  saying  that '  she  looked  so  angelic'  Her 
fine  and  lovely  features  were  made  still  more  interesting  by 
the  paleness  and  pointed  outlines,  which  gave  my  mind  the 
sad  impression  that  we  should  not  have  her  much  longer 
with  us ;  and  I  went  away  deeply  affected.  The  change  in 
her  character,  from  that  morning,  was  most  surprising  to 
every  one.  She  had  before  been  sweet,  amiable,  and 
obedient,  but  occasionally  wayward  and  passionate;  now 
she  became  all  meekness  and  patience,  while  her  mental 
powers  continued  unimpaired  till  almost  the  hour  of  her  de- 
parture. Indeed,  we  truly  believe,  she  was  sanctified  by 
the  Holy  Spirit  for  the  trial,  and  for  a  state  of  glory.  She 
talked  as  usual  in  the  sweetest  manner ;  asked  for  all  she 
wanted  in  her  accustomed  engaging  way ;  and  thanked  us 
for  every  bitter  potion  we  were  obliged  to  administer,  and 
did  indeed,  as  her  nurses  said,  '  act  more  like  an  angel  than 
a  fallen  child  of  man.'    It  now  affords  us  a  mournful  pleasure 


176  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

to  repeat  her  tender  appeals  to  papa  and  mamma,  though 
she  never  once  complained,  and  her  sensible  remarks  about 
things  that  passed  within  her  sight  and  hearing.  From  the 
first  day  of  her  illness,  we  prayed  that  this  solemn  season 
might  be  sanctified  to  our  souls ;  and  when  the  symptoms 
indicated  that  her  life  was  in  danger,  we  earnestly  entreated 
the  Lord  to  spare  her  unto  us,  pleading  our  sincere  desires 
to  devote  her  to  Him,  and  bring  her  up  for  His  glory ;  but 
we  were  truly  enabled  to  ask  for  these  things,  in  submission 
to  His  own  will. 

"  On  Wednesday  morning  a  favorable  change  seemed  to 
have  taken  place,  the  dear  child  having  had  some  hours'  re- 
freshing sleep ;  but  our  hopes  of  recovery  soon  vanished 
like  a  delusive  dream.  A  decided  change  for  the  worse 
took  place  the  same  evening.  She  became  exceedingly  low 
and  exhausted,  and  the  remaining  strength  gradually  dimin- 
ished. Oh !  how  we  wrestled  with  the  Lord  as  we  kneeled 
side  by  side  at  His  footstool ;  no  longer  for  her  recovery, 
but  for  grace  to  glorify  Him  in  the  fire,  and  for  strength  to 
bear  the  cutting  affliction.  Whenever  our  faith  began  to 
fail  and  our  hearts  to  sink,  we  went  together  into  our  sanctu- 
ary to  pray  more  earnestly.  Oh !  what  a  consolation  the 
Word  of  God  proved  to  our  souls.  Never,  never  did  we 
find  it  so  precious !  Never  was  its  power  more  gloriously 
displayed  in  us !  The  doctor  stopped  with  the  dear  suffer- 
er all  night,  evidently  apprehending  the  awful  crisis.  On 
Thursday  morning,  she  lay  pallid  and  weak,  but  still  in  full 
consciousness,  upon  her  bed,  and  seemed  amused  by  a  favor- 
ite toy.  It  was  the  calm  preceding  a  violent  storm.  The 
nervous  system  had  been  excited  to  the  highest  degree,  and 
at  ten  it  began  to  break  loose  in  wild  confusion.  Dreadful 
convulsions,  lasting  two  hours,  shook  the  dear  little  worn- 
out  frame,  and  hastened  the  dissolution  of  the  earthly  taber- 
nacle.   We  expected  death  would  at  once  follow  these  vio- 


A  CHILD  SLEEPING  IN  JESUS.  1T7 

lent  fits,  but  she  rallied  again,  and  her  consciousness  return- 
ed, so  that  she  could  recognize  and  call  every  one  of  us  by 
name.  In  the  evening,  another  attack  of  the  same  kind  came 
on ;  her  strength  was  spent ;  her  breath  grew  fainter.  About 
eight  her  mother  gave  her  her  last  kiss,  and  she  feebly  said, 
'  Mamma ;'  her  last,  as  it  had  been  her  first  word.  At  nine, 
she  calmly  fell  asleep  ;  and  her  freed  spirit  was  conveyed 
into  the  arms  of  Jesus  her  Redeemer,  whom  she  is  now 
adoring  before  His  throne.  We  instantly  withdrew  from 
the  dear  clay,  and  I  read  the  103d  Psalm  and  1  Cor.  15th 
chapter.  We  then  knelt  down  and  thanked  the  Lord  for 
His  powerful  help  in  this  sore  distress  ;  and  entreated  Him 
that  it  might  exercise  a  sanctifying  effect  upon  our  souls, 
our  mission  work,  our  friends,  and  our  flock  of  Christians. 
Oh!  how  blessed  are  those,  who  find  the  Lord  a  'very  pre- 
sent help  in  trouble !'  I  was  very  apprehensive  for  dear 
M.,  but  she  felt  abundant  consolation ;  and  could,  with  will- 
ingness, yea,  with  an  inward  delight,  give  the  precious  child 
up  into  the  hands  of  her  heavenly  Father.  In  the  evening, 
I  had  taken  her  to  the  western  side  of  the  house,  away  from 
the  chamber  of  sufiering,  where  dear  Mrs.  Cheek  and  Miss 
Jones  acted  the  part  of  most  faithful  nurses.  As  we  com- 
forted each  other,  our  darling's  pet  lamb  sported  past  us 
and,  an  instant  after,  dropped  down  and  died.  The  dear 
dying  child  heard  the  bleating  of  the  mother  for  its  young 
one,  and  immediately  said, '  My  little  lamb.'  It  was  a  touch- 
ing emblem  of  her  own  approaching  departure,  and  prepared 
us  to  realize  it.  We  can  most  substantially  feel,  that  '  all 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God.'  We 
are  in  His  hands,  led  by  His  fatherly  guidance,  and  ne^  er 
would  we  murmur  for  a  moment  at  any  of  His  dispensations, 
or  wish  the  loved  one  back  in  our  embraces.  We  do  indeed 
mourn  and  are  afflicted  most  deeply,  but  there  is  a  heavenly 
sweetness  mingled  therewith.  We  had  a  refreshing  sleep 
8* 


178         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

that  night,  which  we  much  needed  ;  and,  when  we  awoke  in 
the  morning,  M.  said,  '  She  has  been  one  night  in  heaven.' 
'  No,'  I  replied,  '  there  is  no  night  there.'  This  comforted 
her  wonderfully.  We  rose  and  gathered  new  strength  by 
prayer,  and  read  Rev.  21,  22,  and  a  very  sweet  Psalm,  and 
then  prayed  again.  We  gathered  the  orphan  children 
around  the  couch  of  our  sleeping  babe,  and  gave  them  an 
address,  which  I  hope  the  Holy  Spirit  has  brought  home  to 
the  hearts  of  some.  We  did  the  same  with  the  adult  Christ- 
ians afterwards.  I  was  wonderfully  supported  in  all  these 
exertions ;  and  will  yet  try  to  improve  the  event  to  all  who 
are  within  our  reach.  Who  knows,  but  God  may  be  pleas- 
ed to  raise  a  new  life  in  many  out  of  this  death  1  In  the 
evening,  we  committed  the  cold  clay  to  the  tomb.  Dear  M. 
was  well  enough  to  go,  and  every  resident  in  the  station  was 
there.*  On  our  return  we  prayed  with  and  comforted  the 
nurse,  a  Hindu  woman,  of  a  sweet,  affectionate  disposition, 
who  loved  Maria  as  her  own  child.  Her  heart  seems  quite 
touched,  and  deeply  impressed  by  the  circumstance,  and  we 
trust  it  will  issue  in  her  true  conversion.  The  next  day  we 
were  calm  and  almost  cheerful ;  and,  in  the  evening,  to  my 
utter  surprise  and  extreme  thankfulness,  after  I  had  been 
walking  in  the  garden  for  refreshment,  Mrs.  Cheek  placed  a 
lovely  boy  in  my  arms.  Thus  has  the  Lord,  in  great  mercy, 
sustained  us  in  a  heavy  trial,  and  crowned  the  end  of  the 
affliction  with  a  new  blessing.  Oh!  we  would  love  this 
Friend  of  our  souls  more  dearly  than  we  have  done  before ! 
We  will  become  more  devoted,  more  zealous,  and  more  use- 
ful in  our  work ! 

"  The  whole  week  had  been  cloudy  and  the  weather  was 
lowering  daily  till  yesterday  morning,  when  a  few  drops  of 

*  Two  gentlemen  removed  the  little  coffin  from  the  carriage,  and  placed 
it  in  the  grave  with  their  own  hands,  in  the  most  Christian  and  brother- 
ly way. 


A  BRIGHT  RAY   OF   HOPE  AND  LIFE. 


179 


rain  fell.  Afterwards  it  cleared  up,  and  the  last  little  cloud 
was  seen  flying  away  towards  the  western  horizon,  Thus 
the  sky  showed  a  beautiful  emblem  of  our  short  afflic- 
tion. Our  sky  too  was  lowering,  but  at  the  very  height  of 
the  storm,  a  bright  ray  of  hope  and  life  illuminated  our  souls. 
In  the  midst  of  all,  Jesus,  'the  Sun  of  righteousness,'  was 
present  with  us,  and  shone  upon  us  by  His  grace.  I  preach- 
ed from  the  blessed  words  that  had  so  comforted  us,  'Weep- 
ing may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning.' 
It  was  from  my  heart,  and  I  was  almost  overpowered  in  the 
beginning ;  but  the  Lord  gave  me  strength  to  continue,  and 
I  trust  a  blessed  impression  was  made  on  my  little  congrega- 
tion. May  our  new  babe  become  a  holy  preacher  of  the 
Gospel ! — In  much  love,  your  very  affectionate  son, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

To  a  brother  of  Mrs.  W. 

"  Nov.  30,  1836. 
"  My  Very  Dear  Brother  :  Your  late  letters  have  been 
perused  by  us  with  peculiar  interest.  We  sympathize  with 
you,  in  the  gracious  visitations  you  have  experienced.  Such 
seasons  must  be  remembered  for  life,  when  we  can  say,  with 
the  full  consent  of  our  hearts,  'Now  I  have  found  the  blessed 
ground,  where  my  soul's  anchor  may  remain.'  I  hope  you  can 
'  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.'  Blessed, 
godly  sorrow,  which  leads  to  Jesus !  Nothing  can  make  Him 
BO  dear  to  us  as  when  we  truly  feel  that  we  are  vile  abomm- 
able  sinners,  and  'all  our  righteousnesses  but  as  filthy  rags.' 
Go  on,  dear  brother,  in  this  blessed  path,  and,  as  your  self- 
knowledge  deepens,  may  your  hunger  after  righteousness, 
your  love  to  your  Saviour,  increase  in  proportion !  Much, 
very  much,  depends  upon  a  vigorous  outset,  when  we  begin  the 
heavenly  race.    May  you  receive  grace  to  be  very  decided, 


180  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

to  aspire,  and  wrestle,  and  pray,  for  a  high  degree  of 
spirituality  and  godliness!  Many  excellent  people  have 
too  low  a  standard  of  vital  religion,  hence  we  see  so  little 
apostolic  holiness  and  purity  in  our  days.  You  express  a 
desire  to  devote  yourself  to  the  glory  of  God.  Our  dear 
Father  in  heaven  will  teach  you  how  to  do  this,  if  you  honor 
Him  by  a  childlike  disposition,  and  readiness  to  follow  His 
leadings.  That  has  been  my  rule  since  my  heart  was  turned 
to  Him,  and  I  have  derived  unspeakable  benefit  from  it. 
While  in  London,  I  studied  and  almost  broke  my  head  over 
three  languages,  for  eighteen  months,  for  the  Abyssinian 
Mission.  Then  the  Committee  wished  me  to  go  to  India. 
It  was  very  painful,  but  I  submitted ;  and  now  I  bless  the 
Lord  that  I  was  sent  here.  I  could  mention  many  instances 
of  this  kind ! — one  more,  I  prayed  often  that  the  Lord  would 
give  me  a  pious,  devoted  wife  ;  and,  in  His  wonderful  provi 
dence,  He  sent  me  one.  I  need  not  describe  her  to  you, 
nor  the  wise  and  wonderful  arrangements  by  which  she  was 
conducted  to  my  arms. 

"You  mention  our  dear  Maria;  her  education  here  is  fin- 
ished, and  angels  have  conveyed  her  happy  spirit  to  more 
glorious  scenes.  She  has  been  now  nearly  five  weeks  in 
heaven.  She  was,  in  many  respects,  an  extraordinary  child, 
and  progressed  most  wonderfully  in  mind  and  body ;  then 
her  sweetness,  her  sprightliness  ;  but  the  Lord  gives  strength 
to  the  weak.  Abraham,  no  doubt,  ascended  Moriah  with  a 
heavy  heart,  and  of  that  heaviness  we  have  felt  our  share ; 
but  we  experienced  something  of  his  faith,  and  we  hope,  bj 
a,nd  by,  to  dwell  with  him  in  the  heavenly  Canaan.  Oh! 
sweet  promise,  '  There  remaineth  a  rest  for  the  people  of 
God !'  We  are  going  to  dwell  in  tents,  and  I  shall  preach 
from  village  to  village.  Kind  love  to  the  dear  family  circle. 
"  Your  very  affectionate  brother 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 


A  BEREAVED  HINDU. 


181 


We  will  now  add  a  few  extracts  from  his  jouraal,  which 
show  us,  that  in  the  midst  of  all  his  trials,  he  was  still  intent 
upon  his  Father's  business. 

"  November  \\.th. — I  had  to  take  the  schools  in  hand ;  Mr. 
Lincke  having  gone.  They  are  now  less  numerous,  and  not 
so  large  as  they  were ;  and  Mr.  D'Rozario  will  take  them 
under  his  care  as  soon  as  I  have  been  through  them  with 
him  for  a  few  weeks. 

"  20^7i. — Our  dear  little  boy  was  baptized  by  Mr.  Green- 
wood. May  he  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  grow 
up  to  the  glory  of  God !  But  children  are  a  gift,  or  rather  a 
loan  from  the  Lord,  and  perhaps  to  be  given  to  Him  soon 
again.  The  tear  of  sorrow  steals  down  our  cheek,  as  we 
think  and  speak  of  her  who  is  gone ;  but  heaven  is  brightest 
seen  through  tears,  just  as  our  hilly  scenery  appears  most 
lovely  in  its  aspect  in  our  rainy  season.  Life  is  a  vale  of 
tears. 

"  21 5^. — I  called  on  six  native  gentlemen  who  are  subscrib- 
ers to  our  Bengali  schools,  and  had  interesting  conversa- 
tion with  some  of  them.  One,  in  particular,  Praja  Mohun, 
had  lately  lost  his  only  son.  I  told  him,  I  had  been  similar- 
ly visited,  and  could  therefore  '  weep  with  them  that  weep.' 
He  spoke  of  submission  to  fate,  and  those  things  by  which 
Hindus  try  to  gain  comfort  in  their  day  of  trouble ;  and 
related  to  rae  a  story  of  a  Hindu  sage  who  had  been  per- 
mitted to  pray  for  any  thing  he  liked,  and  had  asked  for  con- 
tinued suffering,  because  in  prosperity  man  neglects  his  duty 
to  God.  I  told  him  in  return  how  God  sends  these  trials 
for  our  spiritual  good,  to  draw  the  earthly  heart  to  heaven. 
I  explained  to  him  the  delightful  views  which  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  opens  into  a  better  world  ;  and  pointed  out  the  blessed 
state  of  those,  who  can  look  forward  to  death  in  the  full 
hope  of  immortality ;  and  the  triumphant  feature  the  Christ- 
ian religion  assumes  at  the  brink  of  the  grave.    I  spoke 


182  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

warmly,  from  my  heart,  and  referred  to  the  superior  sup- 
port  I  had  experienced  during  my  late  bereavement :  the 
tears  tickled  down  the  Babu's  cheeks,  and  he  was  scarcely 
able  to  speak  when  I  left  him." 

On  another  occasion,  while  preaching,  a  respectable  per- 
son in  the  crowd  said,  "  The  missionaries  who  preach  the 
Gospel  are  such  blameless,  kind,  and  meek  men."  In  proof 
of  this  he  told  the  bystanders  that  in  earlier  days  he  had 
thrown  dust  at  Dr.  Carey  while  preaching,  who  bore  the 
insult  with  unexampled  patience,  not  saying  a  word  against 
the  ill-treatment.  How  much  even  the  heathen  look  on  the 
conduct  of  those  who  preach !    It  struck  me  very  much." 

In  December,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  proceeded  to  Calcutta ; 
and,  on  his  way,  touched  at  Serampore,  where  he  found  the 
veteran  missionary  Dr.  Marshman  bowed  down  to  the  earth 
with  afflictions.  "  I  comforted  him,"  he  writes,  "  with  those 
comforts  which  I  had  found  so  precious  in  our  late  bereave- 
ment, and  read  the  chapter  which  contains  the  words,  '  look- 
ing unto  Jesus,'  which  the  dear  old  man  continually  repeated 
all  the  evening.  After  commending  him  to  our  sympathiz- 
ing Saviour,  in  united  prayer,  we  parted.  As  I  left,  he 
affectionately  took  my  hand,  and  said,  with  the  tears  in  his 
eyes :  '  My  dear  brother,  the  Lord  has  sent  you  to  bind  up 
the  broken-hearted,  and  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  one 
who  is  weary.'  On  reaching  Calcutta,  I  went,  with  brother 
Lincke,  to  his  villages  in  the  south.  The  people  are  simple 
and  ignorant,  but  appear  willing  to  be  instructed,  and  I 
preached  to  them  in  a  way  suitable  to  their  comprehension. 
It  was  quite  different  to  what  the  Burdwan  people  need. 
There  are  a  number  baptized,  and  more  preparing  for  it. 
Preached  at  Potuldanga  Chapel.  What  fine  opportunities 
Calcutta  presents,  with  its  immense  crowd  of  natives,  for 
preaching  the  Gospel  of  salvation !  In  a  few  minutes  the 
chapel  was  fiHed,  and  this  very  chapel  has  been  shut  for 


SERVICE  IN  THE  OPEN  AIR. 


183 


three  months  past,  because  there  are  no  preachers !  Haber- 
lin  too  ill,  and  dear  Sandys  too  much  engaged  with  multi- 
farious duties,  and  not  strong  either.  Alas  !  that  we  have 
no  able  missionaries  from  our  Society  in  Calcutta ! 

Christmas  Day.  I  went  agam  with  Lincke  to  his  vil- 
lages, and  held  an  interesting '  service  with  the  poor  people, 
under  the  canopy  of  heaven.  They  are  much  persecuted, 
and  were  dreadfully  beaten  that  same  afternoon,  by  the 
emissaries  of  the  land-holders,  who  detest  Christianity,  and 
try  to  oppose  its  introduction  by  every  means  in  their 
power.  Thus,  though  there  are  few  idol  temples  or  Brah- 
muns,  for  they  prefer  the  healthier  and  higher  lands,  Satan 
has  his  tools ;  but  the  Lord  is  stronger.  We  had  a  curious 
boat  to  reach  these  places,  a  canoe  formed  out  of  the  trunk 
of  a  tree,  which  is  excavated  in  the  middle.  One  person 
can  sit  at  the  end,  and  another  before  him  in  the  middle, 
besides  the  man  who  paddles  the  craft  through  the  shallow 
waters.  Brother  Deer  was  in  Calcutta,  and  I  preached 
twice  with  him  in  the  Potuldanga  Chapel,  and  ended  the 
year  with  humble  acknowledgments  to  Him  who  has  been 
our  merciful  Father  in  sorrow  and  in  joy." 

On  New  Year's  day  1837,  he  writes :  "  May  the  days 
of  my  pilgrimage,  remaining  to  me,  be  more  faithfully 
spent  for  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  in  preparation  for  my 
eternal  home !  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever.  This  was 
the  great  subject  which  prompted  David  so  often  to  sing 
praises  to  his  God.  May  the  consideration  of  that,  vouch- 
safed to  my  poor  soul,  produce  similar  feelings,  and  call 
forth  similar  acknowledgments  from  me  !" 

On  the  2d,  he  again  attended  a  monthly  missionary  con- 
ference, where  a  conversation  was  held  on  the  importance 
of  Calcutta  as  a  missionary  station.  Nearly  all  the  brethren 
present  allowed  it  to  be  the  most  important  place  in  Bengal 
for  missionary  exertion  ;  and  he  quite  agreed  with  them,  and 


184         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

earnestly  desired  that  it  should  be  well  supplied  with  evange- 
lists. "It  has  not  hitherto  been  so,"  adds  he  ;  "and  there  are 
very  few  among  those  here,  who  preach  among  the  heathen  of 
this  populous  city.  If  our  Society  could  but  be  properly  re- 
presented here  it  would  have  an  effect  on  all  our  other  stations 
in  Bengal.  There  should  be  from  four  to  six  first-rate  men 
always  here  at  headquarters  ;  and  we  should  lead  the  van  in 
missionary  exertions.  This  is  the  duty  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land ;  and  those  on  the  spot,  who  consider  and  understand  the 
subject,  all  see  and  allow  this.  It  is  not  for  show,  or  to  rival 
our  Dissenting  brethren,  that  I  would  see  it  so.  I  delight  in 
what  they  do,  and  bless  God  for  it ;  and  as  to  display,  I 
abhor  and  deprecate  it  as  an  unworthy  principle  in  mission- 
ary work ;  but  six  active,  stirring,  sensible,  devoted,  inde- 
pendent-minded men,  we  should  and  must  have,  if  our  work 
is  to  prosper  here." 

On  leaving  Calcutta  he  proceeded  on  an  extensive  mis- 
sionary tour,  striking  out  eastward  from  Chinsurah,  and 
taking  Culna  in  his  route,  and  from  thence  home.  One  or 
two  incidents  alluded  to  in  letters  we  subjoin  : 

"  At  Tribeni  I  saw  a  painful  sight.  An  old  Hindu  woman, 
a  living  skeleton,  was  brought  to  the  river-side,  to  die.  Her 
own  son  placed  her  naked  body  on  the  cold  stones  of  the 
ghaut,  and  poured  the  holy  water  down  her  throat.  I  was 
myself  shivering  with  cold,  and  the  scene  was  too  sad.  I 
turned  away,  and  preached  to  a  crowd  coming  up  from 
bathing,  in  a  neighboring  garden.  Some  scoffed  and  laugh- 
ed ;  others  commended,  and  said  they  should  like  to  hear 
more.  One  day,  we  came  to  a  place  called  by  interpreta- 
tion '  The  City  of  Everlasting  Happiness.'  This  beautiful 
name  offered  me  a  ready  opportunity  for  commencing  a  con- 
versation with  a  number  of  the  inhabitants.  I  told  them 
how  happy  I  was  to  be  in  a  place  which  I  judged  by  its 
name  to  be  very  delightful  ;  and  I  congratulated  them  on 


"the  city  of  everylasting  happiness."  185 

living  there.  They  were  pleased  with  this  introduction,  and 
expressed  their  gratification  at  my  visit ;  but  added,  that 
true  and  abiding  joys  were  not  found  in  their  village.  So 
I  begged  permission  to  tell  them  where  such  really  existed. 
We  went  on  in  a  most  friendly  manner,  till  an  old  Brahmun, 
with  haughty  mien,  came  and  disturbed  the  beauty  of  the 
discourse  by  his  sophistry.  My  tent,  books,  etc.,  all  go 
very  well  in  our  cart ;  and  I  walk  with  the  catechists.  Yes- 
terday, I  was  very  tired  and  thirsty  from  the  dust,  and  some 
kind  villagers  handed  me  a  lota  full  of  juice,  which  they 
were  extracting  from  the  sugar-cane,  which  refreshed  me 
exceedingly.  I  offered  them  some  pice,  but  they  would  not 
accept  them.  After  five  hours'  walk,  we  reached  Culna,  very 
weary,  and  enjoyed  Mr.  Alexander's  rice  and  curry.  The 
English  and  Bengali  schools  are  all  thriving  nicely ;  and  we 
had  a  very  happy  Sabbath.    I  preached  twice. 

"  At^Konchut  I  struck  my  tent  early,  and  walked  on  nine 
miles.  I  was  richly  blessed  in  communion  with  my  heaven- 
ly Father,  and  wrestled  hard  for  the  poor  souls  who  hear  the 
Gospel  and  despise  it.  I  have  had  delightful  enjoyment  dur- 
ing my  trip  in  my  private  devotions.  May  I  ever  feel  the 
Lord  so  near  my  soul ! 

"  '  Here  are  Jesus  Christ's  men,'  said  the  people,  on  see- 
ing us  at  the  next  village.  I,  at  o*nce,  gave  them  a  solemn 
address,  and  testified  against  their  idolatry,  and  they  seem- 
ed impressed;  but  ignorance,  prejudice,  worldliness,  love  of 
sin,  a  system  of  religion  suited  to  gratify  a  carnal  mind,  are 
strongholds  which  only  that  Power  can  remove,  which  raises 
the  dead.  How  often  does  that  passage  recur  to  my  mind, 
'  Son  of  man,  can  these  dry  bones  live  V  Human  under- 
standing can  only  say,  '  Lord,  thou  knowest.'  The  answer 
is  most  comfortable,  and  it  is  the  word  of  the  true  and  faith- 
fill  One.  Surely  India  has  been  delivered  into  the  hands  of 
Christian  England,  for  no  A  ther  purpose  but  that  its  deluded 


186  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

millions  sliall  receive  the  blessed  Gospel.  May  the  day  of 
His  gracious  visitation  soon  come  !  Pray  write  to  me  daily, 
if  possible,  to  cheer  and  encourage  me,  which  your  letters 
always  do." 

"  At  the  next  place  they  derided  me  exceedingly,  using 
almost  the  very  expression  which  similar  characters  did  to 
Paul  at  Athens :  '  What  will  this  babbler  say  V  It  was 
painful ;  but  though  we  suffer  reproach,  the  Gospel  continues 
to  be  '  the  power  of  God '  unto  the  salvation  of  all  them  that 
believe.  And  in  the  evening,  some  Brahmuns,  who  had  been 
kind  to  me  yesterday,  came  with  five  other  respectable  men, 
and  told  me  they  were  ready  to  embrace  Christianity. 
They  were  evidently  really  convinced  of  the  truth ;  and  here 
is  an  instance  of  deep  conviction  produced  by  preaching, 
which  shows  that  our  labors  are  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 

On  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  arrival  at  home,  he  was  informed 
by  Mr.  D'Rozario,  of  the  death  of  a  native  Christian  lad,  who 
had  been  ill  for  a  long  time,  but  was  only  seriously  indis- 
posed two  days.  "  He  prayed  much,"  he  writes,  "  exhorted 
all  around  him  to  seek  Jesus,  and  several  times  expressed 
his  firm  faith  in  the  Redeemer ;  by  whose  blood  and  right- 
eousness he  hoped  to  get  to  heaven.  He  was  always  an 
interesting  boy,  and  possessed  considerable  talent.  The 
seeds  of  divine  grace  had  sprung  up  in  him  silently,  but  had 
advanced  rapidly  to  maturity  ;  his  happy  death  discovered  a 
sheaf  ripe  for  the  eternal  garner,  and  was  felt  as  a  truly 
encouraging  token  that  the  Lord  smiles  upon  the  labors  of 
His  servants.  He  was  only  five  years  old  when  brought  by 
his  uncle  to  Burdwan,  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  and  he 
was  then  baptized,  and  got  on  very  quickly  in  learning.  He 
appeared  to  be  truly  converted  when  about  twelve  years  of 
age ;  for  from  that  time  he  prayed  much,  and  read  the  Scrip- 
tures diligently  in  private,  and  strove  to  live  a  new  life  in 
every  respect.    His  general  character  and  acquirements  led 


TOUR  WITH  MR.   DE  RODT. 


187 


to  the  hope  that  he  was  designed  for  a  life  of  much  usefiiL 
ness  ;  but  the  flower  scarcely  unfolded  ere  it  was  cut  down. 
His  exhortations  to  the  young  were  most  affectingly  earnest ; 
and  his  personal  experience  of  the  love  and  grace  of  J esus 
remarkable  for  one  so  young.  When  bidding  his  friends 
good-bye  the  last  evening  of  his  life,  he  said,  '  To-morrow 
morning  I  shall  be  with  Jesus then,  clasping  his  feeble 
hands  together,  he  commended  his  soul  and  body  to  Him 
who  is  '  the  resurrection  and  the  life.'  He  died  at  the  time 
he  anticipated,  and  his  spirit  went  to  Him,  by  whose  won- 
derful redemption  he  was  made  a  partaker  of  the  heavenly 
glory." 

Shortly  after,  another  young  man  was  carried  ofl"  by 
cholera,  who  had  not  long  been  baptized.  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
had  no  opportunity  of  speaking  to  him,  or  knowing  his  views 
in  the  prospect  of  eternity,  but  hoped  he  died  an  humble 
penitent.  He  adds :  "  I  felt  exceedingly  low  and  downcast ; 
unwell  in  body  and  sad  in  mind ;  and  it  was  so  with  my 
dear  wife  too.  It  was  at  midnight  we  were  called  up  to 
poor  Benjamin ;  and  when  we  reached  his  cottage  he  was 
already  gone.  Truly  we  pass  through  the  valley  of  Baca, 
and  we  poured  out  our  hearts  before  God,  in  strong  crying 
and  tears." 

On  the  23d  of  February,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  took  another 
tour,  in  company  with  Mr.  De  Rodt,  and  he  wrote  to  his 
wife  :  "  I  am  very  busy  preparing  my  journal  for  home,  and 
my  letters,  etc.  Every  hour  is  employed  during  the  heat 
of  the  day.  We  proceed  satisfactorily,  feeling  ourselves  to 
be  under  the  guidance  of  Him  who  said,  '  Lo  !  I  am  with  you 
always.'  Sometimes  we  are  encouraged  by  the  attention  of 
the  natives,  and  at  other  times  we  find  them  very  bad  and 
wicked  ;  but  neither  of  these  things  must  move  us ;  the  Gos- 
pel must  be  preached,  and  an  honorable  calling  it  is  for  such 
a  poor  fellow  as  myself  to  be  thus  engaged.    The  heat  iy 


ISS         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

increasing  daily,  and  we  have  to  be  very  cautious.  We 
feed  on  rice  and  curry,  and  milk  and  rice  alternately,  by 
way  of  change. 

"  This  is  the  birth-day  of  our  sainted  child,  with  whom 
such  great  joy  was  given  us  for  a  little  season.  She  cele- 
brates it  in  heaven.  She  was  a  lovely  flower,  and  the 
heavenly  Gardener  saw  her  fit  for  transplantation  to  a  more 
beautiful  clime,  when  He  came  down  to  gather  lilies.  How 
beautifully  will  she  now  blossom  in  the  paradise  above ! 
This  tour  puts  me  in  lively  remembrance  of  her.  She  was 
with  us  the  last  time  we  were  at  Bancoorah.  But  the  Lord 
loves  us,  and  this  loss  will  be  our  gain,  as  it  is  assuredly 
hers.  We  shall  understand  His  ways  by  and  by,  and  adore 
His  wisdom  and  mercy.  I  can  not  think  of  this  dear  child, 
without  thinking  of  that  heaven  where  she  dwells,  and  long- 
ing to  be  matured  for  it.  I  hope  I  do  not  love  my  boy  in  a 
sinful  way,  but  he  is  extremely  dear  to  me,  as  the  gift  the 
Lord  sent  to  comfort  our  mourning  souls  in  our  deep,  deep 
sorrow.  Let  us  go  on  our  way,  dearest  M.,  as  those  who 
wait  for  the  better  home,  sowing  precious  seed  for  eternity, 
and  at  last  we  shall  come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  our 
sheaves  with  us." 

We  find  the  following  entry  in  the  journal  after  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht's  return  home.  We  see  in  it  the  faithful  pastor,  who 
watched  for  the  souls  committed  to  him  as  one  that  must 
give  account :  "  Had  a  meeting  with  the  native  Christians 
preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  I  spoke  with  each  sepa- 
rately, and  tried  to  elicit  something  of  their  religious  feelings. 
To  my  great  joy,  almost  every  one  related  to  me  their  expe- 
rience, in  a  very  candid,  simple  manner.  Some  who  had 
formerly  attended  stated  that  they  felt  their  sinfulness  so 
deeply,  that  they  could  not  venture  to  draw  near  to  the  table 
of  the  Lord.  The  sacrament  the  following  day  was  a  very 
solemn  season,  and  I  believe  every  one  was  blessed  in  his 


TROUBLES  OF  THE  BETROTHED. 


189 


soul.  The  sudden  death  of  Benjamm  has  had  a  salutary 
effect." 

A  singular  and  rather  ludicrous  circumstance  occurred 
about  this  time,  which  affords  a  true  picture  of  Hindu  ideas 
and  feelings  on  some  points,  that  are  rather  differently 
viewed  in  Europe.  We  will  give  the  anecdote  from  the 
journal :  "This  morning  I  married  Stephanus,  one  of  our 
younger  men,  who  had  been  betrothed  to  a  girl  of  his  own 
village  in  childhood.  Her  parents  were  very  indignant  with 
him  at  his  baptism ;  and,  after  making  four  separate  attempts 
to  induce  them  to  give  his  bride  up,  he  resigned  his  hope, 
and  reluctantly  proposed  for  another  girl  in  the  orphan 
school.  I  sent  our  catechists  to  his  village  to  see  what  they 
could  do ;  but  they  returned,  assuring  me  it  was  a  forlorn 
hope ;  and  as  the  poor  youth  had  been  thus  tantalized  for 
two  years,  I  sanctioned  his  marriage  with  Samma,  and  all 
was  arranged.  The  news  spread  to  the  village,  and  the  poor 
imprisoned  bride  heard  it,  and  managed  to  escape  in  the 
night ;  so  on  the  appointed  wedding-day,  Stephanus  appeared 
before  me,  with  smiling  face,  and  his  betrothed  blushing  at 
his  side.  I  made  no  delay  in  performing  the  ceremony,  after 
understanding  how  matters  stood,  for  I  quite  sympathized 
with  the  happy  fellow,  and  was  only  sorry  for  the  discom- 
fiture of  poor  Samma,  who  was  much  chagrined ;  but  my 
wife  comforted  her,  and  promised  to  care  for  her  settlement 
the  first  suitable  opportunity.  The  parents  gave  their  con- 
sent when  it  was  too  late  to  change." 

This  young  man  was  afterwards  settled  in  his  village  as 
catechist,  where  he  labored  diligently,  and  produced  a  very 
good  impression.  He  was  finally  made  over  to  the  brethren 
at  Krishnaghur,  when  the  large  number  of  newly  baptized 
persons  there,  required  a  good  supply  of  faithful  teachers  ; 
and  he  has  proved  a  useful  man  in  that  district  ever  since, 
his  wife  turning  out  extremely  well  likewise. 


190  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


To  Mr.  Jowett  he  writes  :  "  There  is  cause  for  encourage- 
ment as  well  as  for  humiliation.  Our  little  flock  of  native 
Christians  is  more  like  a  flock  of  Christ  than  ever  it  was 
before ;  and  I  have  had  the  joy  of  seeing  the  Spirit  at  work 
lately,  particularly  among  the  young.  A  sudden  death  by 
cholera  has  made  a  powerful  impression.  Our  moonlight 
visits  also  appear  to  be  greatly  blessed.  A  greater  mutual 
attachment  has  been  formed  between  the  pastor  and  the 
flock.  Their  hearts  are  more  open  for  spiritual  conversation ; 
and  family  devotion  is  encouraged  and  appreciated.  Our 
English  school  increases  every  month.  The  Acts,  the  Epis- 
tle to  the  Romans,  and  Isaiah,  have  been  read  and  explained 
to  the  first  class  during  the  last  year ;  I  have  reason  to 
believe,  with  great  advantage  to  several  lads.  As  the  num- 
ber of  those  who  learn  English  increases,  I  have  opened  a 
weekly  service  for  them  on  Monday  evening.  Christ  our 
righteousness  and  strength  is  the  great  subject  of  my  dis- 
courses, for  the  preaching  of  the  cross  alone  can  conquer 
their  hearts.  Remember  we  want  a  brother  missionary : 
the  work  is  too  much  for  one. — Yours  affectionately  in 
Christ,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

So  deeply  did  Mr.  Weitbrecht  feel  this  want,  that  he 
wrote  urgent  letters  to  Basle,  entreating  the  Society  there 
to  take  up  a  position  in  Bengal,  and  send  missionaries  direct 
to  India.  He  accompanied  his  letters  by  a  sum  of  money, 
and  promise  of  support  from  the  public  in  India  if  brethren 
came ;  and  he  wrote  a  stirring  article,  which  was  published 
in  the  Calcutta  periodicals,  to  rouse  up  Christians  in  India. 
These  eflbrts  eventually  issued  in  a  Basle  mission  being 
formed ;  but  it  was  located  on  the  other  side  of  India ;  it 
has  been  richly  blessed,  and  has  now,  several  flourishing 
stations  attached  to  it. 

During  this  year  we  find  frequent  entries  in  the  journal, 


DEATH  OF  A  VALUABLE  NATIVE  CATECHIST.  101 

referring  to  the  state  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  health,  which  was 
giving  way,  and  weakening  very  much  ;  yet  there  is  enough 
recorded  of  his  preachings  and  his  labors,  during  this  very 
period,  to  fill  a  volume.  These  records  are  of  a  deeply  in- 
teresting character  ;  but  we  can  only  copy  a  short  paragraph 
here  and  there : 

"  On  Easter-Sunday,"  he  writes,  "  I  was  exceedingly  re- 
freshed and  comforted  at  the  table  of  my  dear  and  ever-liv- 
ing Saviour.  I  was  much  in  want  of  such  a  token  of  His 
grace,  having  been  for  some  time  weak  and  low  in  body  and 
soul.  I  feel  quite  void  of  strength  and  energy.  My  mind, 
with  its  companion  the  heavy  body,  has  lost  its  elasticity. 
I  was  very  glad  to  welcome  dear  brother  Haberlin  on  a  visil 
to  us ;  but  he  too  is  broken  down,  and  my  wife  is  very  del 
icate." 

A  new  affliction  awaited  him  at  this  juncture.  Another 
of  his  valuable  native  helpers  was  removed,  and  it  was  one 
of  those  who  could  least  be  spared.  He  writes  :  "  My  cat- 
echist  James,  at  Bancoorah,  is  no  more.  On  Easter-day, 
this  dear  brother  was  in  full  health,  and  attended  divine 
service,  which  is  held  by  the  pious  officers.  The  cholera 
was  then  raging  violently  in  the  neighborhood;  and  on 
Monday  morning  he  was  seized,  and  faded  away  as  a  leaf  in 
the  scorching  blast.  In  the  evening  his  spirit  was  with  Jesus, 
and  he  saw  his  living  Saviour  face  to  face.  The  following 
morning,  a  pious  European  officer,  who  had  visited  him  in 
his  illness,  read  the  service  over  his  grave.  What  a  mysteri- 
ous providence,  when  men,  who  are  wanted  so  much,  are 
thus  cut  down  in  the  flower  of  their  age  !  But  the  Lord's 
ways  are  not  as  ours ;  and  it  is  for  us  to  '  be  still,'  and  adore 
His  wisdom  under  the  darkest  dispensations.  James  was 
the  first-fruits  of  our  Burdwan  mission ;  three  brothers,  his 
aged  father,  and  an  uncle,  followed  him  a  few  years  after.* 


*  See  page  78. 


192  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

All  are  still  living,  and  walking  worthy  of  their  holy  profes- 
sion.  He  had  been  eighteen  years  in  the  fold  of  Christ,  and 
four  years  alone  at  Bancoorah,  where  he  superintended  the 
schools  diligently,  and  had  nearly  four  hundred  boys  in 
beautiful  order.  I  believe  he  has  been  a  blessing  to  many, 
by  his  pious  consistent  conduct  and  faithful  testimony  of  the 
grace  of  God.  He  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  the  natives 
at  Bancoorah,  which  is  a  valuable  testimony  to  his  character  ; 
for  native  Christians  are  heartily  despised  by  the  heathen,  if 
they  show  inconsistency  in  any  way.  I  feel  exceedingly 
depressed  by  this  event,  we  have  so  few  native  helpers  who 
can  be  thoroughly  relied  on,  and  who  manifest  a  deep  and 
heartfelt  interest  in  their  work." 

The  early  removal  of  men  of  this  class,  is  indeed  one  of 
the  most  trying  circumstances  in  the  experience  of  a  mis- 
sionary in  India.  Had  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  spare  most  of 
the  excellent  converts  in  the  mission  at  Burdwan,  to  the 
usual  length  of  men's  lives  in  Europe,  there  is  no  calculating 
what  the  result  might  have  been  by  this  time.  Certain  it  is, 
that  a  large  and  flourishing  congregation  would  now  have 
existed  there,  double  or  treble  its  present  size ;  but  "  He 
giveth  no  account  of  any  of  His  matters,"  and  we  must  wait 
till  the  day  shall  reveal  it.  The  Sunday  after  this  sad  event, 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  baptized  another  young  convert,  after  di- 
vine service.  The  journal  goes  on  to  mention,  that  "  during 
the  last  moonlight  nights,  my  beloved  M.  and  myself  visited 
all  the  native  Christian  families,  according  to  a  plan  we  had 
formed ;  finding  it  impossible  to  go  to  them  in  the  heat  of 
the  sun,  or  at  any  other  period  in  the  day.  On  a  morning 
following  one  these  visits,  Koilas,  a  pupil  in  the  English 
school,  came  and  declared  his  faith  in  Jesus  ;"  and  he  adds, 
"  my  services  in  Bengali,  in  the  Bazaar  chapel,  are  attended 
by  many  Hindus,  as  regularly  as  if  they  were  members  of 
a  church  congregation."    Surely  this  is  an  encouraging  sign- 


FEARFUL  HURRICANE. 


193 


The  Committee  at  Calcutta  also  sent  him  a  new  catechist, 
Kali ;  but  requested  him  to  discontinue  his  labors  at  Ban- 
coorah,  as  James  was  dead.  "  Perhaps,"  he  adds,  "  it  is  a 
wise  plan,  but  I  can  not  relinquish  without  regret,  a  spot 
where  I  have  labored  so  pleasantly  for  six  years." 

To  a  sister  :  "We  have  awful  heat  this  season,  but  it  has 
just  been  a  little  relieved  by  a  tremendous  hurricane,  which 
has  made  much  work  for  me  to  repair  in  our  compound. 
The  scene  was  fearful ;  the  clouds  were  almost  joined  to  the 
earth,  and  composed  of  dust  as  well  as  water.  At  three  in 
the  afternoon,  we  were  enveloped  in  midnight  darkness,  and 
had  to  light  candles  ;  and  then  the  wind,  the  lightning,  and 
the  thunder  ;  oh !  it  made  even  the  hardy  to  tremble. 

"  Your  sweet  wish,  in  your  last,  that  we  and  our  dear 
little  Maria  might  be  found  hereafter  in  the  Father's  house 
above,  is  already  realized  for  that  dear  child,  who  has  hast- 
ened there  before  us;  and,  as  a  dear  friend  observed, 
'  although  not  first  in  grace,  she  is  first  in  glory.'  The  afflic- 
tion has  been  richly  blessed  to  us  and  others.  We  have 
every  reason  to  hope  her  Hindu  nurse  has  become  a  true 
believer,  and  will  meet  her  in  heaven;  and  we  feel  more  wean- 
ed from  the  world,  and  more  intent  on  that  blessed  home. 

"May  you  prosper  and  grow  in  grace,  my  beloved  sister, 
and  be  in  the  constant  enjoyment  of  those  blessings  which 
make  a  child  of  God  happy  !" 


9 


194  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Baptism  of  Koilas — Loss  of  his  Son— Bishop's  Visit— Tours— Pfander's 
Arrival  with  his  Brethren — Tour  with  Mr.  "Wybrow. 

183t— 1838. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  notes  the  arrival  of 
Nodiachand,  who  was  sent  to  his  assistance  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson, the  Baptist  missionary  of  Beerbhoom,  and  who  was 
placed,  with  his  pious  wife,  at  the  head  of  the  orphan  girls' 
school.  This  couple  proved  most  valuable  and  efficient  in 
their  sphere ;  and  eventually,  Nodiachand  became  head 
catechist,  as  death  removed  his  elder  brethren.  He  con- 
nected himself  with  the  Church  of  England  formally  about 
three  years  subsequently,  after  conferring  with  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson, and  with  his  full  approval.  On  the  21st,  another 
breach  occurred.  An  interesting  young  married  woman  was 
suddenly  called  into  eternity.  "  Her  life  was  exemplary,"  he 
writes,  "  and  evinced  the  character  of  a  simple  and  pious 
Christian.  She  has  made  a  glorious  exchange.  On  the 
same  day  Koilas  came  and  requested  baptism.  His  friends 
had  heard  of  his  wishes,  and  threatened  him  ;  so  he  deter- 
mined to  take  the  decided  step  at  once.  He  had  long  been 
halting  between  two  opinions,  and  was,  at  length,  brought 
home  to  Christ  by  reading  a  copy  of  'Abbott's  Young  Christ- 
ian,' which  brother  Haberlin  had  given  him  on  his  late  visit. 


A  BAPTISM. 


195 


He  was  at  first  advised  to  return  home,  and  did  so  ;  but  per- 
ceiving his  friends  were  maturing  plans  for  his  removal,  he 
returned  again  to  us.  The  following  morning,  his  uncle 
came  with  several  men  to  carry  him  off  by  force ;  but  on 
being  earnestly  remonstrated  with,  he  returned.  The  father 
and  grandfather  then  came,  and  appeared  overwhelmed  with 
grief ;  they  looked  upon  the  event  as  the  greatest  calamity 
which  could  have  befallen  their  family.  The  old  man  said : 
'  "We  fed  and  clothed  the  boy,  and  got  him  instructed,  that 
he  might  support  us  in  our  old  age.  I  hoped  to  die  in  peace, 
and  have  the  benefit  of  my  funeral  obsequies,  (which  are 
performed  by  the  son  or  grandson.)  Now  all  my  prospects 
are  blasted  ;  the  honor  and  holiness  of  our  family  are  fading 
away ;  and  we  go  to  an  ocean  of  misery !'  A  few  days 
after,  the  father  had  an  interview  with  Koilas ;  this  was  un- 
satisfactory to  him ;  he  returned  to  me  and  said  he  could 
not  persuade  his  son  to  change  his  decision.  He  then  insti- 
tuted a  suit  in  the  court,  and  I  was  summoned  to  give  up 
the  lad.  I  answered  he  was  quite  free  to  go  where  he  chose  ; 
upon  which  the  suit  fell  to  the  ground.  This  prepared  me  to 
expect  the  father  would  apply  for  a  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus, 
to  enable  him  to  seize  his  son  ;  and  it  distressed  me  much 
to  think,  that  the  poor  lad  would  then  have  to  make  an 
atonement  to  an  idol,  to  regain  his  caste,  and  would  pro- 
bably perish.  We  therefore  determined,  as  he  was  well  in- 
structed in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  to  baptize  him  at 
once ;  so  on  the  9th  of  June,  I  received  this  dear  young 
man  into  our  flock,  in  the  presence  of  several  friends,  and 
the  native  congregation.  The  same  night  we  sent  him,  un- 
der cover  of  the  darkness,  to  Culna,  accompanied  by  two  of 
our  catechists ;  Mr.  Alexander  obtained  a  boat  for  him 
there,  and  he  proceeded  to  Calcutta,  where  he  is  now  safely 
lodged  with  brother  Lincke.  Another  youth  renounced  Hin- 
duism with  Koilas  ;  but  he  was  seized  and  placed  in  confine- 


196         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ment,  and  has  not  since  been  heard  of.  The  event  has 
caused  a  great  sensation,  and  for  the  present,  nearly  emptied 
our  school ;  but  when  the  crisis  is  past,  this  will  fill  again. 
The  Rajah  sent  for  me  and  asked  me  how  I  could  account 
for  the  youths  in  our  school  becoming  so  attached  to  our 
religion.  I  told  him  that  the  truth  of  it  is  so  powerful  that 
when  impartially  considered  it  will,  it  must  conquer." 

After  this  cheering  and  encouraging  relation,  we  have 
now  again  to  turn  to  the  chamber  of  affliction  and  death. 
A  spiritual  child  had  been  born  ;  the  power  of  God  had 
been  manifested  in  effecting  that  which,  as  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
often  remarked,  was  as  wonderful  as  a  resurrection  from  the 
dead.  It  was  now  required  of  him  to  yield  another  sacrifice 
to  his  Lord,  and  to  resign  the  beloved,  the  "  only  son,"  who 
had,  from  the  circumstances  of  his  birth,  proved  so  unspeak- 
ably precious  a  loan.  The  little  tale  of  woe  is  related  in  a 
letter  to  his  wife's  mother : 

'•'-June  15. — Before  we  have  received  a  line,  expressive  of 
your  sympathy  in  our  last  bereavement,  I  have  to  commu- 
nicate to  you  the  sad  intelligence  of  another.  That  sweet  and 
beautiful  boy,  who  was  given  us  two  days  after  Maria's  de- 
parture, to  console  our  drooping  hearts,  is  now  her  compan- 
ion in  the  bosom  of  Jesus,  and  we  are  left  childless,  for 
reasons  which  we,  short-sighted  mortals,  can  not  comprehend. 
We  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  bringing  up  the  darling  child 
to  the  glory  of  God.  My  dearest  M.  has  received  a  pecu- 
liar gift  for  this  important  work ;  but  this  privilege  is,  for  the 
present,  denied  us.  But  our  heavenly  Father  is  too  wise 
to  err  ;  His  ways  are  perfect  as  well  as  His  works ;  nor 
can  I  for  a  moment  think  the  chastisement  to  be  a  sign  of  His 
displeasure  ;  no,  it  is  for  merciful  reasons,  that  we  may  be 
partakers  of  His  holiness.  We  would,  therefore,  adore  and 
praise  Him,  in  the  midst  of  affliction ;  and  while  frail  na- 
ture is  writhing  under  the  stroke,  and  bitter  tears  are  flow- 


ANOTHER  BEREAVEMENT. 


197 


ing,  we  enjoy  a  composure  and  peace  which  raises  our  souls 
above  the  momentary  suffering,  and  affords  us  a  sweet  token 
of  the  presence  of  Jesus.  Our  sweet  boy  was,  from  his 
birth,  a  picture  of  health  and  beauty  ;  we  observed  also 
with  delight,  with  the  growth  of  his  exquisite  frame,  one  of 
the  most  sweet  and  cheerful  tempers,  and  rejoiced  in  the 
hope  that  he  would  grow  up  to  become  a  devoted  and  zealous 
missionary,  in  answer  to  our  daily  and  fervent  prayers. 
These  prayers  have  been  answered,  but  in  a  way  different 
from  what  we  expected.  His  disease  was  croup,  and  as  1 
witnessed  his  distressmg  struggles  and  his  moans,  my  feel- 
ings of  anguish  were  indescribable,  and  I  could  realize  what 
the  father  of  the  faithful  must  have  experienced,  when  he 
heard  the  command,  '  Take  now  thy  son,  thine  only  son  Isaac, 
whom  thou  lovest,  and  offer  him  up  for  a  burnt  sacrifice 
and  when,  in  obedience  to  this  mandate,  the  patriarch '  boimd 
him,  and  laid  the  wood  in  order,  and  took  the  knife  to  slay 
his  son.'  We  entreated  the  Lord  to  shorten  his  sufferings, 
and  he  helped  us  out  of  our  distress.  At  midnight  he  calm- 
ly fell  asleep,  and  the  next  evening  the  earthly  tabernacle 
was  committed  to  the  same  grave,  where,  seven  months 
before,  we  deposited  his  sister.  A  lovely  pair  they  will  rise 
in  glory,  on  the  great  day  of  the  Saviour's  triumph  ;  then  we 
shall  see  that  these  momentary  afflictions  work  out  for  us 
an  exceeding  weight  of  glory.  My  dear  wife  is  comforted, 
and  was  made  quite  willing  to  give  up  her  babe ;  but  dur- 
ing his  short  illness  her  soul  was  in  deep  waters,  and  all 
His  waves  and  billows  went  over  her.  In  our  next  you 
shall  hear  more.  You  mil  soon  see  our  dear  brother 
Haberlin,  whose  health  has  compelled  him  to  leave  India. 
He  has  been  our  frequent  guest,  is  a  beloved  brother  in  the 
Lord,  and  can  tell  you  much  about  us.  Our  kind  friend, 
Dr.  Cheek,  has  erected  a  little  monument  over  the  graves  of 
our  little  ones.    A  marble  slab  is  inserted,  recording  their 


198  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

names,  etc.,  and  the  verse  follows  :  "  They  were  lovely  and 
pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in  death  not  long  divided.' " 

The  severe  heat  of  the  season  and  this  sad  trial  greatly 
affected  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  health,  and  his  friends  began  to 
be  apprehensive  for  the  consequences. 

The  following  month  he  went  to  Bancoorah,  chiefly  for 
change ;  but  while  there  he  preached  to  the  residents,  and 
administered  the  sacraments.  He  had  not  given  up  the  Ben- 
gali schools,  as  the  pious  officers  took  an  interest  in  them, 
and  he  remarks  in  his  journal,  "  they  are  carried  on  much 
better,  than  I  at  all  ventured  to  expect;"  but  the  English 
school  was  not  doing  so  well.  The  latter  institution,  how- 
ever, continues  to  the  present  day  under  the  auspices  of  the 
residents,  who  have  successively  taken  an  interest  in  it,  and 
supported  and  superintended  it,  independent  of  missionary 
aid. 

He  returned  home  refreshed,  having  also  visited  Mr.  De 
Rodt  in  his  solitary  bungalow,  and  preached  a  good  deal  to 
the  natives  ;  but  he  writes  :  "I  felt  my  bereavement  afresh, 
as  I  entered  the  desolate  and  deserted  nursery :  yet  the 
Lord  is  very  gracious,  and  fills  the  empty  space  by  His 
richest  blessings.  His  smiling  countenance  is  beheld 
through  the  cloud." 

On  going  to  preach  in  the  bazaar  shortly  after,  "  I  met," 
he  relates  in  his  journal,  "  our  two  magistrates,  sitting  before 
a  hut,  and  investigating  an  awful  case  of  murder.  Three 
women  had  been  found  that  morning  in  their  cottage,  in  the 
midst  of  the  town,  with  their  heads  nearly  severed  from  their 
bodies.  A  Brahmun  is  suspected,  as  the  perpetrator  of  this 
horrid  deed.  On  proceeding,  I  beheld,  to  my  horror,  the 
mangled  corpses  in  the  field,  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  mul- 
titude, and  becoming  the  prey  of  vultures.  I  let  the  magis- 
trates know  this,  and  they  sent  people  to  remove  and  inter 
them.    What  a  sensation  such  a  shocking  event  would  cause 


THE  bishop's  visit  TO  BURDWAN. 


199 


in  Europe ;  how  it  would  arouse  tlie  strongest  emotions ! 
but  here  it  makes  little  impression,  and  raises  little  surprise 
or  indignation.  These  are  truly  the  'dark  places  of  the 
earth,  full  of  the  habitations  of  cruelty,'  and  murders  occur 
continually  in  the  towns  of  India,  which  are  never  brought 
to  the  notice  of  the  authorities.  Koilas  would  never  eat  the 
food,  sent  him  by  his  friends  after  his  baptism,  believing 
that  in  all  probability  it  was  poisoned.  When  I  have  some- 
times gone  to  visit  condemned  malefactors  in  the  jail,  before 
their  execution,  I  have  generally  found  them  perfectly 
hardened,  and  entirely  apathetic ;  quite  unconscious  of  their 
awful  crime,  and  unaffected  by  the  dreadful  doom  that 
awaited  them." 

The  journal  of  August  contains  an  account  of  a  visit  from 
the  bishop,  who,  with  his  usual  earnest  zeal,  preached  at 
Burdwan  on  the  very  day  of  his  arrival.  "  The  Bengali 
chapel,"  writes  Mr.  W.,  "  was  crammed  full,  and  the  bishop 
gave  us  a  simple  impressive  little  sermon,  which  I  interpreted. 
The  next  day  we  had  English  service,  and  the  following  day 
was  fixed  on  for  the  examination  of  the  Bengali  schools,  but 
it  poured  with  rain.  Still  the  bishop  came,  with  a  number 
of  questions  which  he  had  committed  to  paper.  I  put  them 
into  Bengali,  and  he  asked  them  himself,  to  the  surprise  of 
every  one.  On  Sunday  he  gave  us  a  beautiful,  edifying,  and 
stirring  sermon  on  the  words,  '  And  I,  when  I  be  lifted  up, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  me.'  I  enjoyed  the  discourse  very 
much.  The  hidden  power  inherent  in  the  preaching  of  a 
crucified  Saviour,  which  draws  sinners'  hearts,  as  he  set  it 
forth  in  his  eloquent  way,  came  home  to  my  mind  with  strik- 
ing force,  and  served  to  stimulate  me  anew  in  my  mission- 
ary work.  We  want  to  be  reminded  of  these  old  truths 
again  and  again.  Twenty-five  individuals  partook  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  in  our  English  chapel ;  95  rupees  were  col- 
lected, which  will  be  appropriated  to  building  an  orphan 


200         MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

boys'  school.  On  Monday,  the  bishop  examined  the  English 
school  to  great  disadvantage,  as  it  is  nearly  emptied  for  the 
present,  in  consequence  of  the  conversion  of  Koilas  and 
Omochuran,  who  were  the  head  boys  in  the  first  class.  On 
Tuesday,  he  was  with  us  again  to  examine  the  orphan  girls' 
and  infant  schools ;  he  seemed  exceedingly  gratified  by  the 
pleasing  progress  of  the  children,  and  applauded  and  encour- 
aged Miss  J  ones  very  warmly.  Two  of  the  boys  in  the 
infant  school  answered  all  his  questions  in  English  very 
readily,  which  delighted  him  exceedingly. 

"  When  the  examination  was  over,  five  of  the  girls  pre- 
sented the  bishop  with  a  beautifully-wrought  rug  and  sampler, 
with  his  name  marked  upon  it.  He  preached  again  in  the 
evening  in  the  Bengali  chapel ;  it  was  a  very  interesting  and 
instructive  service.  Many  natives,  besides  our  flock,  were 
present,  and  several  Europeans.  The  place  was  very  full. 
After  service,  the  bishop,  Mr.  Bateman,  and  brother  Green- 
wood, dined  with  us ;  having  first  gone  round  the  premises, 
walked  through  the  Christian  village,  schools,  etc. ,  which  pleased 
him  more  than  any  thing  he  had  seen ;  and  at  dinner  he 
said,  '  This  has  been  one  of  the  happiest  days  of  my  life.' 
On  the  following  morning,  he  preached  a  beautiful  sermon 
on  being  influenced  by  the  Spirit.  After  service,  nine  of  the 
native  Christians  were  confirmed.  I  had  never  witnessed  a 
confirmation  before  in  the  English  church,  and  thought  it 
very  solemn.  I  had  qmte  forgotten  that  the  candidates  did 
not  understand  English,  and  had  not  prepared  for  it ;  so  1 
was  obliged  to  translate  the  confirmation  service  impromptu, 
as  the  bishop  proceeded  with  only  the  aid  of  my  English 
prayer-book,  and  felt,  at  first,  almost  puzzled,  but  I  soon  got 
on  with  great  readiness.  The  last  morning  of  his  stay,  I  was 
so  worn  out,  that  I  had  an  attack  resembling  cholera.  My 
wife,  in  her  alarm,  sent  for  the  bishop's  doctor,  as  well  as  for 
Cheek.    Dr.  Webb  came  first,  as  he  was  much  nearer,  and  I 


PRESERVATION. 


201 


was  soon  relieved  by  his  active  remedies.  The  dear  bishop 
was  most  affectionately  concerned,  and  came  in  the  evening 
to  see  me,  as  he  left  the  station,  and  expressed  very  warm 
sympathy.  He  embraced  me  in  the  German  way  on  parting. 
The  Rajah  paid  him  a  visit  of  ceremony  in  our  house  during 
his  stay ;  and  he  behaved  very  kindly  towards  him,  and 
returned  the  call,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Greenwood  and  my- 
self" 

During  September,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  again  notices,  in  his 
journal,  the  crowded  and  attentive  congregations  he  always 
had  in  his  bazaar  chapel,  in  the  evenings.  This  was  a  regu- 
lar place  of  worship,  in  the  very  centre  of  the  native  town, 
furnished  with  benches,  and  a  raised  platform  by  way  of 
pulpit.  It  was  so  surrounded  by  native  dwellings,  that  it 
was  impossible  to  admit  the  air  into  it  on  any  side  :  it  was 
open  to  the  street  in  front,  but  the  crowd  there  was  often  so 
dense  that  carriages  could  scarcely  pass.  The  heat  arising 
from  the  state  of  the  atmosphere,  the  large  congregation  of 
human  beings,  and  the  lighting  of  the  place,  was  so  intense, 
that  he  usually  left  it  bathed  in  perspiration,  and  walked 
home  two  miles  to  avoid  taking  cold.  There  he  arrived  in  a 
state  of  utter  exhaustion,  thus  actually  wearing  out  in  the 
service  of  his  blessed  Lord,  as  every  true-hearted  missionary 
will  rejoice  to  do.  One  evening  this  month,  while  on  his 
way,  he  trod  on  a  very  large  snake,  which  immediately  raised 
its  head  and  darted  towards  him,  so  that  he  had  to  run  for 
his  life.  **  The  Lord,"  writes  he,  "  literally  fulfilled  his  pro- 
mise, Mark  16:  'If  ye  tread  on  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall 
not  hurt  you.'  " 

His  trials  were  still  abundant ;  his  wife  had  a  severe  and 
protracted  illness,  and  he  began  to  fear  she  must  go  to  Europe^ 
which  the  doctors  had  long  urged.  He  writes:  "Oh!  may  it 
please  God  to  enable  her  to  continue  in  India,  at  least  three 
or  four  years  longer."    The  idea  of  leaving  his  work,  or 


202  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

parting  from  her,  seemed  a  greater  trial  than  his  faith  was 
then  equal  to  ;  and  he  was  graciously  spared  both.  He  felt 
deeply  the  little  piety  existing  among  the  Europeans  then  at 
the  station,  and  writes,  "  I  think  I  never  prayed  for  them  so 
much  before.  Will  the  Lord  not  answer  1  I  am  sure  He 
will,  but  we  must  wait  His  time.  It  is  a  serious  hindrance 
to  our  work,  and  I  told  Mr.  O.  so  faithfully,  when  he  asked 
me  why  we  were  not  more  successful  1  I  shall  advise  Mr. 
Greenwood,  to  have  the  weekly  service  changed  to  a  meeting 
for  edification  at  his  own  house  and  ours ;  then  those  who 
like  may  come,  and  perhaps  receive  a  blessing."  As  he  was 
now  deprived  of  the  presence  of  a  brother  missionary,  the 
Committee  in  Calcutta  sent  him  another  master  for  the  Eng- 
lish school ;  and  Mr.  D'Rozario  assisted  him  in  his  manifold 
duties,  and  also  went  out  with  him  sometimes  in  his  little 
tours.  When  on  one  of  these  together,  they,  one  day,  took 
up  their  quarters  at  the  Moonsiff's  (native  judge)  at  Selima- 
bad.  He  was  an  old  pupil  from  the  Burdwan  English  school, 
and  a  polite  and  very  agreeable  man.  They  saw  his  library, 
consisting  of  Scott's  Bible,  some  volumes  of  sermons,  Hume's 
History  of  England,  Locke's  Essays,  and  some  smaller  works. 
His  conversation  manifested  that  he  read  them,  and  that  he 
was  altogether  well  informed.  He  related  having  seen  his 
mother  conveyed  to  the  river-side  to  die ;  and  his  remarks 
upon  the  superstition  of  the  Hindus  were  just  such  as  a 
Christian  would  have  made.  Mr.  Weitbrecht  read  Isaiah  55, 
and  explained  it,  with  inward  prayer  that  their  kind  host 
might  be  benefited  by  his  guests,  and  concluded  the  evening 
with  earnest  prayer  aloud,  for  the  conversion  of  the  Hindus. 

We  will  proceed  with  a  few  more  extracts  from  the 
journal  of  an  excursion  that  followed.  He  first  describes 
a  scene  that  will  interest  many  :  "  I  saw  this  evening,  the 
burning  of  a  Brahmun  widow's  corpse.  A  priest  went 
round  the  funeral  pile  with  a  lighted  torch  in  his  hand.  He 


BIRTH  OF  ANOTHER  DAUGHTER. 


203 


was  probably  her  son.  After  some  ceremonies,  he  ignited 
the  wood  at  the  head  of  the  corpse,  which  was  wound  up  in 
a  red  silk  shawl.  Clarified  butter  and  incense  were  then 
thrown  into  the  flame.  A  fancy  boat  was  placed  near  the 
burning  pile,  ornamented  with  tinsel,  representing  the  ferry 
over  which  Yama  (Charon  of  the  Greeks)  conducts  the  souls 
of  the  deceased,  across  the  river  of  Death  to  the  shores  of 
immortality." 

A  new  mercy  was  also  vouchsafed  at  this  period.  An- 
other little  daughter  was  given  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  and  that 
mournful  sadness,  which  had  never  been  quite  removed 
until  now,  gave  way  to  the  voice  of  joy  and  gladness. 
"  The  Lord's  name  be  praised  for  this  new  mercy,"  he 
writes  to  his  wife's  family ;  "  thank  Him,  dear  friends,  with 
us,  and  unite  your  prayers  with  ours  that  our  babe  may  be 
spared,  and  that  we  may  be  blessed  in  our  efforts,  to  bring 
her  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  She 
has,  long  before  her  birth,  been  the  subject  of  our  supplica- 
tions, and  those  of  a  few  dear  friends,  who  knew  what  may 
be  expected  of  children  who  from  their  first  existence  are 
devoted  to  Him.  M.  says  she  can  truly  declare,  that  only 
for  God's  glory  would  she  wish  the  dear  child  to  live. 

"  M.  and  myself  had  a  delightful  and  profitable  conversa- 
tion together,  on  the  state  of  our  souls,  and  our  progress 
in  holiness.  Found  much  to  humble  ourselves  for.  We 
live  in  a  dangerous  atmosphere  ;  there  is  a  constant  weight 
— climate,  worldly  people,  idolaters,  and  our  own  wicked 
hearts  to  help  on  these  causes,  and  incline  us  downwards, 
instead  of  upwards.  It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  speak  often 
with  each  other,  on  these  all-important  subjects.  We  find 
it  so. 

"  The  Rajah  visited  us,  and  bought  a  good  deal  of  the 
girls'  work.  He  was  not  quite  pleased  at  some  remarks  I 
made  about  Christianity ;  but  afterwards  commended  my 


204 


MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


meekness,  in  not  answering  him  again  in  the  same  spirit, 
and  allowed  that  we  had  the  advantage  of  Hindus,  in  the 
spirit  our  religion  teaches." 

To  a  brother-in-law :  "  What  you  quote  from  the  Me- 
moir of  Henry  Venn  is  beautiful,  and  truly  appropriate  to 
our  case.  We  have  read  that  biography ;  and  it  afforded 
us  the  purest  pleasure  and  much  comfort.  Often  do  I  wish 
that  we  had  such  an  eminent  saint  near  us,  to  consult  with, 
to  copy  from,  and  to  find  that  edification  in  his  society,  of 
which  we  poor  exiles  in  a  heathen  country  are  so  much 
debarred.  But  these  privations  are  among  the  bitter  por- 
tions, which  missionaries  must  be  prepared  for,  and  for 
which  the  Lord  Jesus  has  engaged  to  indemnify  them ;  and 
He  does  it.  You  little  know,  my  dear  brother,  how  diffi- 
cult it  is  to  keep  up  the  tone  of  piety,  when  the  outward 
help  of  pious  ministers  and  Christian  society  is  withdrawn. 
Yet,  without  deep  spirituality  and  devotedness,  what  is  a 
missionary,  and  how  can  he  go  on  in  his  work  with  vigor  ?" 

In  October,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  the  great  delight  of  wel- 
coming to  his  house  at  Burdwan,  his  beloved  cousin  Pfander, 
who  had  been  partly  instrumental,  by  his  example  and  influ- 
ence, in  first  leading  his  own  mind  to  the  contemplation  of 
missionary  work.  This  was  a  gratification  his  affectionate 
spirit  had  anticipated  with  fervent  delight ;  and  he  had  been 
much  in  correspondence  with  a  benevolent  and  devoted 
friend  in  Central  India,  D.  F.  Macleod,  Esq.,  respecting  the 
establishment  of  a  mission  there,  where  he  hoped  his  cousin 
might  be  located,  and  be  joined  by  other  brethren  from 
Basle.  Mr.  Pfander  had  labored  for  ten  years  in  Georgia 
and  Armenia ;  and  was  then  driven  away  with  his  brethren, 
by  the  Russian  government.  The  providence  of  God  did 
not  open  his  way  clearly  to  go  to  Central  India ;  after  con- 
siderable deliberation,  the  plan  was  abandoned  ;  he  became 
connected  with  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  and  was 


AN  AGED  CONVERT  GOING  TO  BE  WITH  CHRIST.  205 

finally  settled  at  Agra,  where  he  has  been  laboring  ever 
smce.  He  resided,  for  some  time,  at  Burdwan,  together 
with  Mr.  Kreiss,  who  had  accompanied  him,  a  most  welcome 
guest  in  the  mission-house.  He  employed  himself,  while 
there,  in  the  preparation  of  a  valuable  controversial  work  for 
the  use  of  learned  Mussulmans,  which  has  since  been  greatly 
blessed,  in  producing  conviction  and  conversion,  among  that 
difficult  and  almost  inaccessible  body  of  men  who  tried  dear 
Henry  Martyn's  patience  so  deeply.  A  few  weeks  later 
they  were  joined  by  Messrs.  Hoernle  and  Schneider,  who 
had  also  been  their  fellow-laborers  in  Persia ;  and  all  four 
were,  in  due  time,  located  together  at  Agra,  and  remain  at 
that  post  of  labor  to  the  present  time.  Central  India  was 
afterwards  taken  up  by  another  band  of  German  brethren, 
four  in  number,  who  were  all  carried  off  by  cholera  in  one 
week ;  but  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  permitted,  before  his  death, 
to  see  every  prospect  of  this  sphere  being  brought  into  con- 
nection with  the  Church  Missionary  Society ;  and  how  his 
spirit  exulted  in  God  his  Saviour,  as  he  thus  beheld  one  after 
another  of  the  cherished  plans  and  desires  of  his  ardent 
spirit,  accomplished  in  God's  own  time,  by  His  overruling 
providence  ! 

An  extract  from  the  journal  of  this  date  contains  another 
of  those  pleasing  little  records,  that  tell  of  one  of  the  humble 
and  feeble  Hindu  believers,  having  finished  his  course  with 
joy  :  "  On  the  6th  of  October,  Anundo,  the  father  of  James, 
(see  p.  78,)  was  attacked  by  cholera.  We  tried  all  possible 
means  for  him,  but  without  success ;  he  died  in  the  evening, 
and  the  next  morning  I  committed  his  remains  to  the  tomb. 
I  put  several  questions  to  him  during  his  illness.  '  I  am  a 
sinner,'  said  he,  '  and  I  know  it ;  but  Christ  died  for  sinners, 
and,  through  Him,  I  hope  to  be  saved.  I  feel  that  God  is 
about  to  take  me  to  Himself.'  He  was  a  very  simple, 
unsophisticated  old  man,  but  had  lived  and  walked  con- 


206  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

sisteiitly ;  and  what  he  knew  of  divine  truth  afforded  him 
comfort  in  his  hour  of  need,  and  he  departed  in  hope  of  glory. 
On  the  13th,  our  dear  brother  Wybrow  arrived ;  so  we  have 
now  the  privilege  of  seeing  two  holy  servants  of  God  under 
our  roof.  The  stormy  weather  prevented  his  leaving  us  as 
soon  as  he  intended,  so  he  preached  here  for  two  Sundays  ; 
and  his  hearers  derived  much  benefit  from  his  discourses. 
One  of  our  orphan  girls,  who  was  a  servant  in  the  house, 
had  her  heart  quite  touched,  and  became  afterwards  a  pious 
girl.  Spending  a  day  with  Wybrow  is  an  intellectual  and 
spiritual  feast.  His  expositions  and  prayers,  at  family 
worship,  are  sources  of  rich  enjoyment  to  our  poor  thirsty 
souls.  When  he  visits  the  Christians,  he  has  a  kind  word 
and  a  smile  for  every  one,  especially  for  every  child.  As  he 
walked  through  the  village  with  M.,  one  morning,  he  was 
overjoyed  with  the  readiness  of  Peter's  excellent  wife,  whc 
took  up  his  imperfect  expressions,  with  her  accustomed  intel- 
ligence and  quickness,  and  became  the  interpreter  of  all  he 
desired  to  say.  '  What  a  happiness,'  said  he,  '  to  hear  a 
humble  Bengali  woman  thus  eloquent  in  the  true  faith  !' " 

We  go  on  to  quote  from  the  journal :  "  On  the  25th,  after 
commending  the  mission  family  in  prayer  to  God,  this  dear 
brother  left,  and  I  accompanied  him  for  some  days.  The 
journey  was  made  on  horseback,  and  the  afternoons  were 
spent  in  preaching  in  the  villages,  near  the  encampment. 
On  one  occasion,  when  witnessing  in  a  body  of  hearers  a 
marked  attention,  he  could  not  forbear  any  longer,  and  said : 
'  Dear  brother,  I  must  say  a  word  to  these  people ;'  and, 
though  in  broken  accents,  he  bore  a  faithful  testimony  to 
the  truth  of  the  Gospel ;  and,  from  that  time  forward,  he 
spoke  a  word,  to  young  people  particularly,  wherever  an 
opportunity  presented  itself.  On  Sunday  we  had  a  sweet 
season  together,  in  conversing  on  Heb.  10 ;  and  in  prayer, 
remembering  my  beloved  wife  and  our  dear  brethren,  and 


WYBROW,  A  BELOVED  BROTHER  THE  COLLIERIES.  207 

our  mission  at  Burdwan.  It  was  a  blessed  day  in  the  wilder- 
ness. One  day  two  lovely  boys  came  out  of  the  wood  ; 
most  interesting  from  their  great  simplicity ;  who  at  once 
found  their  way  to  our  hearts,  and  we  proposed  to  them  to 
come  to  Burdwan  for  education.  One  had  brought  us  his 
little  kid  as  a  present,  the  other  a  lota  full  of  milk ;  their 
parents  were  nice,  kind  people,  the  head  of  their  village ; 
they  came  afterwards,  and  we  took  a  walk  with  these  child- 
ren of  nature,  in  their  own  woods,  when  the  boys  showed 
us,  with  pride  and  exultation,  their  humble  cottage,  saying : 
*See,  sir,  the  largest  of  these  houses  is  ours.'  One  of  them 
said :  '  If  we  go  with  you,  our  friends,  who  love  us  very 
much,  would  be  sorry  and  cry.'  We  found  these  people 
knew  scarcely  any  thing  of  idolatry.  Dear  Wybrow  told 
them  of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  expressed  his 
cordial  desire  that  they  might  learn  to  worship  Him.  He 
wanted  me  to  leave  Thomas,  and  establish  a  school  there. 
The  next  morning,"  he  adds,  "  I  parted  from  this  beloved 
brother.  We  were  surrounded  with  the  sublimest  scenery ; 
the  giant  Mount  Porsenath,  with  his  three  crowns,  looked 
down  upon  us  in  majestic  grandeur.  While  the  tent  was 
striking  we  went  into  the  bush,  and  poured  out  our  hearts, 
once  more,  before  the  Lord  together.  The  moon  shone 
brightly  upon  us,  it  being  only  four  o'clock.  The  people 
warned  us  of  tigers,  but  none  were  permitted  to  disturb  our 
parting  moments  of  brotherly  communion." 

On  his  return  home,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  visited  the  collieries, 
and  there,  as  the  poor  miners  ascended  from  their  pits,  he 
mounted  a  heap  of  coal  as  a  pulpit,  and  addressed  about  two 
hundred  of  them,  who  gathered  round  him,  speaking  to  them 
words  of  eternal  life.  It  was  Sunday,  but  these  poor  people 
had  no  rest,  even  on  the  Sabbath.*    "  What  a  responsibil- 


*  This  has  been  changed  since. 


208         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ity,"  writes  Mr.  W.,  "  rests  upon  their  nominally  Christian 
masters !  Little  girls  of  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  were 
carrying  loads  of  nearly  eighty  lbs. ;  and  the  poor  women 
told  me,  that  the  coal  dust  had  penetrated  the  pores  of  their 
skins,  and  they  could  not  wash  it  off,  so  they  were  really  and 
actually  black  in  body  ;  and  oh!  how  polluted  in  soul!"  He 
records  another  narrow  escape  he  had  of  his  life,  as  he  pro- 
ceeded onward.  A  sick  sergeant  hearing  he  was  near,  sent 
him  an  earnest  entreaty  to  visit  him ;  the  messenger  was 
accompanied  by  a  horse,  which  he  mounted,  in  ignorance  of 
its  vicious  propensities.  As  he  was  riding  along  it  threw 
him  violently  against  the  jagged  stump  of  a  tree ;  but  God's 
gracious  providence  watched  over  him,  and  he  fell  a  little  on 
one  side  of  the  dangerous  object,  which  must  have  killed 
him  had  he  come  in  contact  with  it.  He  was  much  shaken 
and  bruised,  but  continued  preaching,  wherever  he  met  with 
hearers,  till  he  reached  home,  where  leeches  and  other  reme- 
dies yielded  him  relief. 


LETTER  TO  HIS  WIFE. 


209 


CHAPTER  X. 

Vifiits  Krishnaghur — Describes  the  Movement  there — K.  M.  Banneijea 
— "Weakened  Health — Death  of  Mr.  Greenwood — Trip  to  Benares. 

1839—1840. 

'"''Jan,  1,  1839. — How  many  seasons  of  spiritual  refresh- 
ment have  we  enjoyed  together  in  private,  during  the  year 
now  past,  and  how  many  blessed  opportunities  of  proclaim- 
ing the  Gospel  among  Christians  and  heathens !  Much  do 
I  find  that  is  humbling  on  my  own  side,  but  much  more 
that  calls  me  to  exclaim,  '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !'  as 
I  ent€r,  in  His  name,  on  this  my  ninth  year  of  labor." 

A  few  incidents  of  a  tour,  he  had  begun  in  December,  are 
mentioned  in  the  letter,  which  follows,  to  his  wife,  who  had 
accompanied  him  for  a  month,  and  then  returned  home  with 
his  little  girl : 

"  I  fear  you  will  be  uneasy  at  receiving  no  letters  ;  but 
really  in  the  jungles,  there  are  great  impediments  to  liter- 
ary pursuits.  After  leaving  you  on  the  elephant,  I  made 
my  way  back  to  Purulia ;  and  De  Rodt  and  myself  had  a 
large  congregation  in  the  bazaar  there.  The  next  day  I  saw 
a  Cole  in  court,  swearing  by  the  tiger's  skin  he  held  in  his 
hand ;  you  know  the  Hindus  swear  by  Ganges'  water.  Mr. 
H.  says  that  the  truthfiilness  of  these  mountaineers  is  re- 
markable.   Several  of  them  had  once  given  evidence  in 


210  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

court ;  and  on  returning  home,  a  tiger  attacked  them  and 
devoured  one.  The  others  recollected  that,  in  their  terror, 
they  had  not  spoken  quite  correctly  on  one  point  of  their 
evidence ;  so  they  hastened  back  to  correct  their  misstate- 
ment, believing  this  was  the  sole  cause  of  their  companion's 
misfortune.  Major  W.  is  very  much  attached  to  these  peo- 
ple, and  would  liberally  aid  any  missionary  effort  on  their 
behalf.  Your  elephant  is  very  polite,  and  makes  salaam  to 
me  whenever  I  see  him.  I  sometimes  give  him  a  loaf  of 
bread,  which  he  swallows  at  one  mouthful.  In  the  jungle, 
I  beheld  a  remarkable  sight,  two  tamarind  trees  literally 
covered  with  a  species  of  large  bats,  called  flying  foxes. 
There  must  have  been  some  thousands.  They  hang  by 
their  claws  with  their  head  downwards,  so  that  they  appear 
at  first  sight  like  a  species  of  large  fruit.  Upon  my  mak- 
ing a  noise,  the  whole  army  fluttered  about,  which  presented 
a  most  extraordinary  spectacle.  The  measure,  from  one 
extremity  of  the  wing  to  the  other,  is  five  or  six  feet.  The 
head  and  color  resemble  those  of  the  fox.  At  four  the  vil- 
lagers assembled ;  and  one  showed  me  a  central  place,  where 
we  had  a  profitable  and  encouraging  opportunity  of  declar- 
ing the  truth.  Some  of  the  people  were  intelligent,  and 
asked  very  important  questions ;  I  trust  the  Lord  will 
enlighten  their  minds  to  understand  and  receive  the  truth. 
In  one  spot  we  saw  a  bullock  encampment.  These  animals 
had  brought  a  supply  of  salt  to  the  jungles,  and  were  return- 
ing with  mustard  and  linseed.  They  were  two  hundred  in 
number,  and  were  so  placed  that  they  formed  a  large  tri- 
angle, in  double  rows,  with  their  heads  turned  towards  each 
other.  This  is  the  usual  arrangement  to  protect  them 
against  the  incursions  of  tigers ;  yet  they  are  said  some- 
times to  break  in,  and  carry  off"  one  or  two  from  these 
close-drawn  lines.  The  goods  are  piled  up  in  the  centre, 
and  the  people  cook  their  food  and  eat  close  to  the  heap. 


CONGREGATION  AT  SHALDEA. 


211 


We  had  very  attentive  hearers  at  the  village  near  this 
encampment ;  and,  on  the  whole,  a  delightful  season  among 
those  who  had  never  heard  of  the  true  God  before.  In  my 
evening  devotion  I  was  richly  blessed ;  had  a  deep  insight 
into  my  peculiar  sins  and  wretchedness,  and  could  lie  low 
before  God,  and  ask  earnestly  for  a  new  heart,  and  grace  to 
live  a  more  holy  life.  I  do  feel,  most  deeply,  that  I  am  not 
so  spiritual  as  a  missionary  ought  to  be ;  and  therefore  not 
the  missionary  I  wish  and  profess  to  be  in  my  communica- 
tion with  the  world.  May  the  Lord  help  me  to  make  prog- 
ress in  true  godliness  ! 

"  At  Shaldea  I  had  a  congregation  of  villagers,  who  were 
much  surprised  at  my  telling  them,  that  God  who  created 
the  world  was  their  Father  and  Preserver ;  that  they  might, 
at  once,  address  Him  for  all  they  needed,  without  the  help 
of  any  lower  deity  ;  and  that  the  secret  of  becoming  good, 
pure,  and  holy,  was  to  go  to  Him  with  a  deep  sense  of  our 
wretchedness.  That  the  truth  reached  their  hearts,  in  some 
degree,  I  may  infer  from  the  kind  way  in  which  they  spoke 
of  me.  '  This  is  a  good  man  ;  did  ever  a  European  gentle- 
man sit  down  and  thus  converse  with  us  V  said  they  to  each 
other.  Oh  !  that  the  Lord  would  send  redemption  out  of 
Zion  to  these  poor  people  !  We  stopped  again  at  the  place 
where  you  cooked  us  the  nice  fish  with  potatoes  under  the 
tree,  and  walked  on  from  three  in  the  morning.  Every 
jungle  flower  gave  out  a  fragrant  smell,  and  every  bird  sung 
and  appeared  happy,  after  the  refreshing  shower  of  yester- 
day. My  friends  here  are  exceedingly  kind,  the  change  from 
a  life  in  the  jungles  to  one  in  their  elegant  house  is  very 
striking,  and  reminded  me  of  Lacroix's  remark,  that  a  mis- 
sionary must  be  wedded  to  nothing  but  his  wife.  I  had  only 
a  white  jacket  with  me,  so  I  preached  in  that.  I  have  had 
a  happy  Sabbath,  a  blessed  day  of  rest.  May  the  Lord 
grant  you  the  same  !" 


212  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

On  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  return  home,  he  welcomed  his 
esteemed  brother  Sandys,  with  Mrs.  Sandys  and  their 
whole  family,  who  came  by  earnest  invitation,  to  spend  a 
month  at  Burdwan ;  and  hearing  much  of  Mr.  Deer's 
success  in  the  Krishnaghur  district,  he  proposed  to  Mr. 
Sandys  to  make  a  trip  there  with  him,  which  they  did. 
The  particulars,  with  other  matters,  are  related  in  a  letter 
to  Mr.  Jowett,  and  in  one  to  another  friend,  which  may  be 
given  together  : 

"  You  will  have  heard  the  pleasing  news  of  the  conver- 
sions in  the  Krishnaghur  district ;  which,  according  to  our 
Society's  arrangements,  is  a  branch  of  this  station,  and  I 
formerly  visited  it  as  such.  I  was  present  at  the  baptisms, 
with  brother  Sandys,  Bannerjea,  and  Archdeacon  Deal  try, 
who  had  to  rough  it  as  we  did,  in  travelling  from  village  to 
village,  sleeping  in  huts,  palanquins,  etc.  He  was  exceed- 
ingly kind,  and  afterwards  went  over  to  Burdwan  and 
preached  there.  My  chief  companion  was  Bannerjea,  whom 
I  found  very  interesting.  I  preached  very  much  among  the 
villagers  wherever  I  went ;  and  thought  the  candidates,  on 
the  whole,  sincere,  though  very  ignorant.  There  has  been 
a  severe  famine  among  them,  which  has  softened  their 
hearts ;  and  the  benevolence  and  kindness  of  Christian 
friends  have  so  worked  on  them,  that  it  seems  to  have  led 
them  to  manifest  a  willingness  to  embrace  the  truth.  1 
assisted  in  baptizing  some  five  hundred  individuals ;  and  if 
these  new  congregations  can  be  properly  provided  with 
teachers,  they  will,  I  hope,  prosper,  though  we  must  expect 
that  some  will  fall  off  again.  The  excursion  was  very  inter- 
esting and  useful  to  me,  and  I  returned  home  satisfied  and 
gratified,  and  rejoicing  in  the  blessing  vouchsafed  to  brother 
Deer.  It  can  not  be  expected  that  people  so  little  instruct- 
ed in  the  Christian  religion,  could  all  have  embraced  Christ 
ianity  from  the  purest  motives  ;  but  I  trust  there  is  a  num> 


KURTO  BHOJAHS. 


213 


ber  among  them  who  love  the  truth,  and  care  for  their  sal- 
vation. I  have  sent  them  all  the  assistance  I  can.  Mr. 
D'Rozario  is  gone,  and  three  of  our  native  Christian  teachers, 
such  as  can  be  best  spared ;  I  have  let  my  chief  catechist  go 
also  (a  very  pious  man)  for  a  few  months,  till  others  can  be 
provided,  as  so  much  depends  on  their  getting  good  teachers 
in  the  outset.  Mr.  Alexander  has  left  Culna  and  gone  to 
help  Mr.  Deer,  and  the  Christians  there  will,  by  degrees, 
leave  the  place ;  some  have  already  done  so,  and  followed 
Mr.  Alexander,  so  that  station  will  be  abandoned  by  the 
Church  Missionary  Society. 

"Many  of  the  baptized  are  from  the  poorer  classes  of 
Mohammedans,  who  were  probably  converts  from  Hinduism, 
when  the  Moslems  ruled  the  land,  and  are  not  much  attached 
to  their  faith  ;  but  I  believe  the  larger  proportion  are  Kurto 
Bhojahs,  or  worshippers  of  the  Creator  ;  a  very  remarkable 
sect,  by  whom  the  Lord  appears  to  have  prepared  an  en- 
trance for  the  Gospel,  among  the  inhabitants  of  Bengal. 
The  two  great  pillars  upon  which  the  structure  of  Hinduism 
rests,  the  worship  of  idols  and  caste,  are  overthrown  by 
them  ;  they  are  on  the  increase  everywhere.  I  have  found 
them  in  many  villages  in  the  Burdwan  district,  and  their 
leader,  a  very  intelligent  Brahmun,  came  one  Sunday  to 
attend  divine  service  in  our  Bengali  chapel,  and  appears 
well  disposed  towards  Christianity.  I  hope  he,  with  several 
others,  may  receive  grace  to  believe  in  Jesus,  and  confess 
His  name  before  the  world.  The  same  individual  informed 
me,  that  the  number  of  their  adherents  already  amounts  to 
upwards  of  two  hundred  thousand,  in  various  districts  in 
Bengal.  They  exist  too  in  the  Patna  and  Benares  districts. 
They  are  most  numerous  along  the  banks  of  the  Hoogly 
river ;  where  a  very  devoted  missionary,  Mr.  Forsyth,  who 
was  stationed  at  Chin  surah,  preached  the  Gospel  for  some 
years  very  diligently,  in  the  begiiming  of  the  present  cen 


214  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

tury  ;  and  the  Baptist  missionary  Chamberlain  also  itinerat- 
ed there  extensively  in  later  years.  The  sect  has  probably 
sprung  up  in  consequence  of  the  light  diffused  by  these  two 
men,  particularly  the  former.  It  derives  its  name  from 
Khashbara,  a  village  near  Hoogly.  The  leader,  at  that 
place,  is  supposed  to  be  endowed  with  divine  qualities. 
Love  and  benevolence  are  an  essential  part  of  their  system. 
They  receive  all  classes  and  castes  into  their  brotherhood ; 
but  have  singular  ideas  respecting  a  divine  incarnation, 
which  they  imagine  is  continued  on  earth. 

"  Our  English  school  in  the  town  of  Burdwan,  is  in  an  in- 
teresting and  prosperous  state,  and  may  eventually  become 
the  means  of  the  conversion  of  many  young  Hindus.  My 
convert  Koilas  is,  at  present,  assisting  in  teaching.  Some 
of  the  first  classes  visit  him  on  Sundays,  when  he  reads  a 
chapter  and  explains  the  subject  of  it  to  them.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  talent,  and  anxious  to  become  a  native  minis- 
ter. At  present  he  lives  with  us,  and  I  teach  him  Greek 
and  Hebrew,  as  we  have  no  head  seminary  to  which  to  send 
him.  Mr.  D'Rozario  being  now  at  Krishnaghur,  among 
the  new  converts,  the  school  is  left  without  a  suitable  teach- 
er, and  to  get  one  of  moderate  talents  and  piety  here  seems 
next  to  impossible.  Could  you  not  send  us  a  few  young 
men,  suited  for  this  branch  of  missionary  work?  We 
greatly  need  them;  and  if  they  possess  a  knowledge  of 
geography,  history,  and  the  elements  of  mathematics,  with 
a  little  practical  experience  in  the  management  of  a  school, 
and  are  sincerely  pious,  they  may  become  as  useful  in  their 
sphere,  as  an  ordained  missionary. 

"  Our  orphan  girls'  school  is  an  interesting  part  of  our 
mission,  and  has  already  answered  the  objects  of  its  estab- 
lishment. Several  of  the  girls  are  truly  converted ;  some 
of  them  have  been  married  to  good  young  men,  and  make 
nice,  industrious  wives.    Some  time  ago,  Mrs.  Weitbrecht 


THE   WORK   AT  KKISHNAGHl'R. 


215 


added  an  infant  school,  -svith  a  view  to  benefit  the  children 
of  our  native  Christians.  We  have  no  suitable  teacher  for 
this  either.  If  our  friends  could  see  the  good  effect  it  is 
producing,  they  would,  I  think,  help  us  to  one.  Pray,  my 
dear  friend,  do  try  for  us." 

The  wants  complained  of  in  the  above  letter,  as  far  as  it 
relates  to  the  English  school  at  Burdwan,  are  still  imsupplied. 
For  the  other,  native  teachers  have  long  since  been  trained. 
It  lay  as  a  heavy  weight  upon  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  till  the  day 
of  his  death ;  and  after  that  sad  event,  it  fell  away  to  almost 
nothing ;  so  that  when  his  successor  arrived,  there  were  not 
more  than  twenty  boys  in  it.  How  grievous  it  seems,  that 
while  the  fields  are  white  unto  the  harvest,  in  every  depart- 
ment of  labor  in  Bengal,  the  laborers  are  so  few !  We 
must  still  repeat  the  words  of  our  blessed  Lord  in  His  day, 
"  Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  He  will 
send  forth  laborers  into  His  harvest." 

The  following  interesting  letter  from  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
companion  in  travel,  the  Rev.  K.  M.  Bannerjea,  was  -^-ritten 
some  months  later,  but  as  it  refers  to  the  subject  now  before 
the  reader,  it  may  find  a  place  here.  It  will  be  seen  by  it, 
that  the  bishop  was  then  about  to  proceed  to  Krishnaghur, 
to  administer  the  rite  of  confirmation  to  the  newly-baptized 
converts.  During  the  interval  that  had  elapsed  between 
February  and  October,  letters  had  been  wi'itten  home,  and 
had  not  conveyed  quite  a  correct  impression  of  the  nature 
of  the  work  at  Krishnaghur,  which  had  been  spoken  of  as  an 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  a  modern  Pentecost.  It  is  ex- 
tremely difficult,  for  an  ardent-spirited  laborer  abroad  to 
write,  so  as  to  give  just  the  impression  he  means  to  produce 
upon  the  minds  of  the  Christian  public  at  home.  What  he 
details,  in  the  warmth  of  his  feelings,  may  not  be  understood 
as  he  intended,  and  subsequent  experience  may  not  bear 
him  out  in  the  expressions  he  has  used  in  his  first  letters, 


216  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

when  communicating  the  joyous  intelligence  of  a  great  on- 
ward movement,  in  the  right  direction.  It  will  be  seen 
from  the  letters  just  perused,  which  were  written  several 
weeks  after  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  return  from  Krishnaghur,  how 
sober  and  correct  his  views  were;  they  always  remained 
the  same  as  he  then  expressed  them ;  they  were  undoubtedly 
accurate,  and  admitted  to  be  so  by  all  who,  in  later  periods, 
examined  the  results  of  the  movement  which  then  took  place. 
He  always  regarded  it  as  a  subject  for  thankfulness  and 
praise,  that  so  many  poor  ignorant  idolaters  had  been 
brought  under  Christian  influence ;  though  he  could  not 
conscientiously  have  adopted  just  the  same  course  as  his 
brother  Deer  had  done,  had  he  alone  been  the  responsible 
party : 

"  Oct.  23,  1839. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Weitbrecht  :  I  fully  enter  into  your 
feelings  with  regard  to  the  bishop's  visit  to  Krishnaghur, 
and  long  with  you  to  be  present  at  the  confirmation  of  those, 
whom  we  baptized  ourselves.  The  reports  that  have  since 
been  given  of  the  converts  have  been  discouraging,  and 
while  I  hope  the  best,  I  can  not  help  regretting  that  such 
glowing  accounts  were  sent  to  England,  and  must  regard 
them  as  premature  ;  it  is  not  wise  to  report  and  make  much 
of  missionary  matters.  I  mourn  over  the  spirit  of  publishing^ 
which  exists  to  a  fearful  extent.  We  had  no  time  for  full 
inquiries  when  we  were  at  Krishnaghur,  and  the  little  in- 
quiry we  made,  brought  to  light  much  that  was  painful  to 
us,  as  well  as  much  that  was  cheering. 

"  I  feel  very  grateful  for  the  affectionate  regard  which  per- 
vades your  letter  to  me.  At  the  very  time  you  were  ex- 
pressing your  sympathies  towards  me,  the  bishop  was  re- 
questing the  silent  prayers  of  the  congregation  on  my  behalf. 
I  deeply  feel  my  unworthiness,  and  am  amazed  when  I  re- 
flect on  how  I  was  born  and  brought  up  as  a  child  of  wrath, 


LETTER  FROM  A  NATIVE   CLERGYMAN.  217 

and  a  slave  of  sin  and  Satan,  and  was  nevertheless  called 
through  the  riches  of  divine  grace,  not  only  to  believe  on 
the  Son  of  God,  but  to  become  a  Priest  in  His  Church.  Can 
the  Lord's  hand  be  ever  suspected  by  unbelief  to  be  shortened, 
or  His  grace  to  be  abated,  when  He  could  reclaim  such  a 
sinner  as  myself,  from  the  grasp  of  Satan,  and  call  me  to  be 
a  minister  in  His  holy  service!  Few  circumstances  have 
been  more  encouraging  to  me,  in  the  prospect  of  India's  re- 
generation, than  the  wonderful  long-suffering  and  the  in- 
comprehensible kindness  of  God  towards  myself.  I  assure 
you  I  have  been  a  great  sinner  ;  and  were  I  to  stand  upon 
the  ground  of  merit  and  self  righteousness,  I  should  per- 
ish. But  divine  power  and  compassion  can  make  the  heart 
of  the  hardest  sinner  feel,  and  the  most  profligate  idolater 
can  be  overcome  by  Him.  Though,  therefore,  there  be 
many  and  insurmountable  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  con- 
version of  my  heathen  countrymen,  to  the  eye  of  flesh, 
they  vanish  like  smoke  when  we  look  through  the  glass  of 
faith.  If  God  can  convert  one  sinner.  He  can  convert  a 
thousand  ;  and  we  may,  with  this  assurance,  go  on  without 
fainting,  using  the  best  means  in  our  power,  and  depending 
upon  His  blessing  for  the  happy  result.  I  felt  much  when 
the  bishop  and  the  presbytery  laid  their  hands  on  me ;  and 
humbly  hope  prayer  has  not  been  offered  in  vain. 

"  My  new  church  in  Cornwallis  Square  has  been  conse- 
crated, and  I  am  preaching  in  it,  and  have  about  two  hundred 
hearers.  The  first  Sunday  there  were  six  hundred.  May 
the  seed  sown  bring  forth  fruit  in  every  one  of  them,  one 
hundred,  sixty,  and  thirty-fold !  As  soon  as  I  occupy  the 
parsonage,  I  shall  commence  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  evi- 
dences of  Christianity,  in  English,  on  some  week-day ;  be- 
sides the  Bengali  services  on  Sundays.  At  least,  this  is  my 
plan ;  but  all  is  m  dependence  on  God.  May  the  Lord 
spare  your  little  one,  and  may  it  grow  in  wisdom,  in  stature, 
10 


218 


MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


and  in  grace !  Children  are  precious  charges  to  the  Lord's 
people.  How  much  we  learn  of  our  own  natural  depravity, 
by  witnessing  their  little  frettings,  etc. !  and  how  encourag- 
ing is  the  promise  to  those  who  try  to  train  them  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord  !  Our  elder  little  girl 
has  already  learnt  to  kneel  down  before  '  her  Father  in  hea- 
venj  whom  she  calls  God,  and  to  whom  she  prays,  in  broken 
language,  that  '  her  papa,  and  mamma,  and  herself,  may  be 
blessed.' 

"  Our  friend  Kali,  who  was  with  you,  is  become  unsettled 
in  his  views  since  he  came  to  Calcutta,  and  feels  it  difficult 
to  continue  in  communion  with  our  Church.  I  regret  this  ; 
but  feel  persuaded  he  continues  a  true  child  of  God. 

"  Accept  our  united  kind  regards  for  yourself  and  Mrs. 
Weitbrecht,  and  believe  me  your  affectionate  brother  in 
Christ,  K.  M.  Bannerjea."* 

During  this  year,  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  health  was  very  in- 
different, and  his  trials  in  various  ways  severe.  He  had 
continued,  at  the  earnest  entreaty  of  the  Rajah  and  his  fam- 
ily, to  visit  him  from  time  to  time  ;  and  the  monthly  salai*y 
which  had  been  paid  him  from  the  beginning  was  always  reg- 
ularly sent;  but,  under  the  pressure  of  various  evil  reports,  he 
decided  on  requesting  the  Rajah  to  withhold  this  assistance, 
which  had  always  been  regarded  and  held  sacred  by  him,  as 
a  trust  to  be  used  for  the  Lord.  He  therefore  called  at  the 
palace  and  stated  his  desire  to  decline  it  from  henceforth, 
and,  as  far  as  lie  could,  he  mentioned  his  reasons  for  so  doing. 
But  these  were  quite  unintelligible  to  Prahn  Babu ;  and  he 
besought  him  most  earnestly  to  allow  them  to  continue  to 
send  the  money.    "  You  know,"  said  he,  "  we  regard  you 

*  The  writer  of  this  letter  was,  before  his  conversion,  a  Koohn  Brah- 
mun,  that  is,  a  member  of  the  highest  order,  of  the  highest  caste  of  Hin- 
dus.   He  was  baptized  by  Mr.  (now  Dr.)  Duff  in  1832. — Editor. 


"the  secret  power  of  prayer." 


219 


as  our  best  friend,  our  Guroo,  [spiritual  teacher,]  and  we 
value  your  friendship  and  advice  above  that  of  all  others. 
Your  counsel  has  always  been  serviceable  to  us,  and  partic- 
ularly of  late,  during  many  troubles  that  have  occurred  to 
us."  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  however,  continued  firm  in  his  de- 
termination, and  respectfully  adhered  to  it,  promising  to 
apply  for  their  assistance,  whenever  he  needed  it  for  any 
particular  purpose.  He  considered,  that  this  course  was 
pointed  out  to  him  by  the  providence  of  God,  from  the  vari- 
ous aspersions  to  which  he  had  become  subject,  and  that  He 
would  provide  help  for  His  loved  work  in  other  ways ;  and 
though  some  may  think  he  was  mistaken,  one  can  but  ad- 
mire his  manly  integrity  and  decision.  His  faith  was  never 
put  to  shame,  for  he  was  always  abundantly  supplied,  by  the 
liberality  of  Christian  friends,  with  all  the  help  needed  to  ena- 
ble him  to  carry  out  his  plans  and  endeavors  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Hindus. 

We  find  perpetual  allusions  in  his  journal  to  the  enfeebled 
state  of  his  health,  and  to  an  enlargement  of  the  trachea  of 
the  throat,  caused  by  continual  speaking.  He,  however,  de- 
tails numerous  facts  of  interest  in  his  daily  labors ;  though 
his  spirits  often  suffered  from  the  weakness  of  his  body. 
"  If  it  were  not  for  the  secret  power  of  prayer,"  remarked 
he  to  a  friend,  "  I  could  not  keep  up  ;  but  the  sublime  truths 
contained  in  Rev.  22  sustain  me."  These  same  truths  sus- 
tained him  to  the  end,  and  it  was  from  the  concluding  verse 
but  one  in  that  chapter  he  preached  his  last  sermon,  the 
evening  before  he  was  received  into  his  faithful  Master's 
presence.  On  Easter-Sunday  he  baptized  an  intelligent 
youth  of  great  promise,  who  was  decoyed  away  by  hig 
friends  a  few  weeks  after  ;  and  Koilas  was  near  sharing  the 
same  fate,  but  was  rescued  by  the  mighty  power  of  God ; 
though  his  mother  and'  grandmother  got  him  home  and 
almost  overcame  him.    Thus  writes  he  :  "  The  dearly-won 


220  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

fruits  of  our  labors  are  allured  by  Satan  ;  and  those  converts 
who  are  most  hopeful,  as  to  future  usefulness,  are  drawn 
away.  The  foundations  of  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  must  be 
laid  in  troublous  times." 

Many  paragraphs  in  the  journal  refer  to  the  visits  he 
made  to  villages,  where  the  people  manifested  a  most  earnest 
desire  after  Christianity,  and  had  really,  from  his  frequent 
sojourn  and  preaching  among  them,  obtained  a  good  mea- 
sure of  Christian  knowledge  ;  but  as  he  could  not  conscien- 
tiously receive  them,  under  the  prospect  of  having  to  care 
for  their  temporal  support,  he  never  baptized  them  en  masse, 
as  he  might  have  done,  had  his  views  been  different ;  and 
again  and  again,  he  had  to  bear  the  pain  of  seeing  them  with- 
draw, when  they  appeared  on  the  very  threshold  of  the  en- 
trance into  the  fold  of  Christ's  Church.  How  trying  this 
was  to  his  faith,  none  but  a  missionary  who  watches  for 
souls  can  know.  "  I  preached,"  writes  .he,  "  in  the  bazaar- 
chapel  on  the  text,  'And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all 
men  unto  me.'  Oh !  what  a  precious  word  for  the  weary 
worn-out  missionary.  It  animated  me  to  see  the  poor 
Hindus  sitting  around  me,  and  listening  as  if  they  felt  some- 
thing of  the  drawing  towards  Christ.  I  came  out  bathed  in 
perspiration,  and  longing  most  intensely  for  their  conver- 
sion. Driving  home  in  a  conveyance,  I  was  providentially 
preserved  from  death,  by  the  light  afforded  me  by  an  awful 
flash  of  lightning,  which  showed  me  that  I  was  rushing 
against  another  conveyance,  driving  at  full  speed.  The 
concussion  would  have  been  fearful.  What  is  often  an  in- 
strument of  destruction  was  thus  made  to  me  one  of  preser- 
vation; and  my  wife  was  with  me." 

He  writes  to  a  brother  in  Germany : 

{Translation.) — "The  prospect  of  our  Saviour's  advent 
is  a  bright  one  for  His  suffering  Church ;  and  did  I  not  often 
dwell  upon  it,  I  think  I  could  scarcely  stand  against  the 


THE  USE  OF  AFFLICTIONS. 


221 


trials  of  my  arduous  work.  Se  leads  His  people  on,  and 
that  safely,  and  sustains  and  guides  them  by  His  powerful 
arm.  This,  dear  brother,  we  have  both  experienced,  and 
can  joyfully  testify.  It  is  the  same  kind  arm  on  which  His 
dear  people  have  leaned  from  the  beginning,  and  it  encom- 
passes us  in  our  severest  trials.  Mine  have  been  many ; 
but  our  dross  must  be  consumed,  and  our  tin  thoroughly 
purged  away,  that  we  may  become  partakers  of  His  holiness. 
While  enduring  the  process,  our  tears  will  often  flow,  and  our 
hearts  will  sometimes  nearly  burst.  We  see  so  little  but 
misery  around  us,  and  feel  so  little  but  sin  within  us ;  and 
sometimes  it  would  seem  as  if  all  must  be  delivered  over 
to  the  burning ;  but  it  is  not  so.  An  eye  bedimmed  with 
the  waters  of  sorrow  can  not  distinguish  clearly  ;  but  when 
we  wipe  them  away,  behold,  the  Lord  is  near  us  in  the 
flame,  watching  the  refining  process,  and  purifying  the  sons 
of  Levi.  He  is  a  faithful,  tender  friend,  a  brother  born  for 
adversity  ;  and  He  has  experienced  it  Himself  He  heats 
the  furnace  as  we  can  bear  it ;  but  He  does  not  suffer  it  to 
cool  till  He  sees  it  has  done  its  work.  Truly  says  the  pro- 
phet, '  Thou  art  a  God  that  hidest  thyself,  O  God  of  Israel ! 
the  Saviour.'  The  suffering  Church  is  the  most  lovely  ob- 
ject we  can  contemplate.  It  is  composed  of  loving  and  lov- 
€d  believers,  united  in  one  conflict,  having  to  pass  through 
the  same  valley  of  tears,  and  preparing  together  for  joining 
the  one  conquering  host  that  forms  the  Church  triumphant. 
WTiat  grand  and  glorious  scenes  will  open  to  us  then,  when 
the  last  battle  has  been  fought,  the  last  victory  won  ! 

Thither  may  we  repair, 
That  glorious  bliss  to  share : 
TTe  shall  see  the  welcome  day — 
"We  shall  to  the  summons  bow : 
Come,  Redeemer,  come  away  : 
Now  prepare,  and  take  us  now," 


222         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

He  received,  during  May  of  this  year,  the  affecting  tidings 
of  the  removal  of  his  beloved  friend  and  former  tutor,  Dr. 
Blumhardt,  at  Basle,  with  whom  he  had  always  kept  up  an 
intimate  and  brotherly  correspondence.  "  May  my  death 
resemble  that  of  this  dear  man  of  God,"  he  writes  in  his 
journal,  "  and  may  I  be  as  faithful  as  he  was  to  the  end  ! 
The  conflict  was  very  severe  before  nature  finally  gave  way, 
and  his  prayers  to  the  Lord  strong  and  urgent,  for  his  pains 
were  excessive.  He  took  a  most  affecting  leave  of  his  wife 
and  the  only  child  that  had  been  spared  to  him  out  of  six. 
The  brethren  then  sung  a  beautiful  hymn  around  his  bed, 
commending  his  departing  spirit  to  the  Saviour,  and  he  fell 
asleep  in  the  midst  of  his  adopted  children,  whom  he  had 
loved  as  a  tender  father.  It  is  impossible  to  calculate  his 
loss,  but  the  Lord  liveth.  For  twenty-two  years  he  labored 
in  Basle,  and  trained  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  mis- 
sionaries for  their  difficult  career.  There  are  few  who  have 
prayed  more  earnestly  or  labored  more  successfully.  His 
soul  lived  and  moved  in  the  element  of  love  to  God  and 
man ;  and  though  of  a  delicate  bodily  constitution,  he  labor- 
ed night  and  day.  The  income  of  the  Basle  Society  has  in- 
creased much  under  his  management,  from  a  few  thousands 
to  70,000  or  80,000  Swiss  francs,  annually.  '  From  hence- 
forth blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord :  even  so 
saith  the  Spirit,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors ;  and  their 
works  do  follow  them.' 

"  My  brother  Charles  has  been  obliged  to  resign  his  post 
as  tutor  at  Basle,  on  account  of  his  health." 

In  September,  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  heart  was  made  glad  by 
the  birth  of  a  little  son  ;  but  the  season  was  so  sickly,  that 
he  had  to  give  up  his  time  almost  wholly  to  attending  pa- 
tients, and  could  go  out  to  preach  but  little.  Mr.  Green- 
wood was  obliged  to  leave  his  post,  being  seriously  ill ;  the 
congregation  suffered  ;  his  wife  and  children  likewise ;  and 


THE  SPIRIT  WILLING,  BUT  THE  FLESH  WEAK.  223 

the  indisposition  of  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  became  so  decided  that 
it  was  necessary  for  her  husband  to  convey  her  to  Calcutta, 
where  the  doctor  insisted  on  both  of  them  proceeding  to 
Europe  forthwith,  and  selected  a  cabin  for  them  in  a  ship 
about  to  sail.  Even  Mr.  Wybrow  urged  this  step  in  the 
most  brotherly  way,  on  observing  her  apparently  critical 
state.  Never  did  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  Christian  devotedness 
and  manliness  of  character  appear  more  beautiful  than  in 
this  trying  emergency.  He  calmly  but  decidedly  told  his 
medical  friend  that  he  could  not  see  it  his  duty,  thus  hastily 
to  quit  his  station ;  that  he  believed  God  would  bless  a 
change  in  India  itself,  to  the  restoration  of  his  wife's  health ; 
and  that  they  might  thus  both  be  enabled  to  remain  for 
a  season  longer.  The  doctor  reluctantly  agreed  to  this  after 
watching  the  patient  some  days  ;  and,  as  the  season  of  the 
year  was  favorable,  a  trip  to  Benares  was  determined  on. 
"Often  do  I  pray,"  writes  he  to  his  wife's  brother,  "  that  the 
Lord  will  not  permit  us  to  leave  this  unhappy  country, 
before  the  seed  we  have  sown  spring  up  in  greater  abund- 
ance than  hitherto ;  though,  if  He  direct  us  by  circumstances 
to  return  to  our  beloved  home^  believe  me,  we  shall  not  be 
backward  in  following  His  direction.  Often  when  I  come 
home  from  preaching,  wet  with  perspiration,  I  feel  so  tired, 
literally  so  worn  out,  that  I  am  fit  for  nothing,  and  may, 
without  impropriety,  say,  '  The  spirit  is  willing,  but  the 
flesh  is  weak.'  When  you  describe  the  pleasure  and  comfort 
you  derived  from  your  four  weeks'  visit  to,  and  repose  in  the 
bosom  of  the  dear  home  circle,  we  felt  that  such  a  privilege, 
were  it  only  once  a  year,  would  be  sweet  to  us  too.  Yes, 
my  brother,  though  a  missionary,  being  engaged  in  the 
most  sacred  cause,  is  watered  himself  while  he  is  watering 
others,  yet  he  feels  keenly  the  want  of  sympathizing  Christian 
friends,  who  can  enter  into  his  peculiar  trials.  With  the 
exception  of  a  few  truly  pious  persons,  who  do  not  always 


224  MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


cross  our  path,  people  are  more  disposed  to  depreciate  our 
efforts,  and  to  find  out  the  defects  of  our  converts,  than  to 
encourage  us,  by  acknowledging  the  value  of  our  labors  ;  and 
it  is  ridiculous  to  hear  worldly  people,  who  never  took  the 
trouble  to  convince  themselves  of  the  contrary,  by  their 
own  observations,  and  who,  in  fact,  know  nothing  of  true 
conversion  themselves,  affirm  that  there  is  not  one  real  con- 
vert in  Bengal." 

While  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  at  Calcutta,  he  attended  the 
funeral  of  Mr.  Greenwood,  and  heard  the  Archdeacon 
preach  a  solemn  sermon  on  the  occasion,  on  the  words,  "  If 
the  righteous  scarcely  be  saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly  and 
the  sinner  appear  ?"  The  Rajah  of  Burdwan  behaved  most 
kindly  to  the  widow ;  indeed  his  conduct  would  have  done 
honor  to  any  Christian  nobleman.  He  at  once  engaged  her 
brother  as  his  tutor,  on  condition  that  half  the  salary  should 
go  to  support  her  and  her  family.  The  brother  left  India  a 
few  years  afterwards,  but  the  salary  was  continued ;  and 
Mrs.  Greenwood  enjoys  it  to  the  present  day,  though  she 
has  long  since  removed  from  Burdwan."* 

On  the  1st  of  December  the  party  left  Calcutta,  accom- 
panied, for  a  few  days,  by  their  sympathizing  brother 
Wybrow,  and  his  wife.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincke  took  charge 
of  the  mission  at  Burdwan,  and  every  arrangement  was 
made  for  a  six  months'  absence.  A  few  notes  of  the  journey 
may  be  copied  from  the  journal : 

"  On  the  10th,  we  reached  Berhampore.  Brother  Lessel 
and  his  wife,  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  were  all 
love  and  kindness  ;  and  'laded  us  with  such  things  as  were 
necessary.'  At  the  adjoining  city  of  Moorshedabad,  we 
visited  the  splendid  palace  of  the  Nawab.    The  central  hall 

*  Mrs.  Greeenwood  died  a  few  months  since.  The  Rajah  put  on 
mourning,  and  continues  to  allow  50  Rs.  a  month  to  her  youngest 
daughter,  who  is  still  unmarried. 


TRIP  UP  THE  GANGES. 


225 


with  the  cupola  is  magnificent.  The  Nawab  holds  his  Durbar 
in  it ;  and  it  is  furnished  with  divans  and  elegant  Persian 
carpets.  His  silver  chair  stands  in  the  centre,  supported  on 
the  pedestal  by  four  lions  of  silver.  Every  room  is  adorned 
with  splendid  pictures  ;  that  of  Napoleon's  Death  is  one  of 
the  best.  The  Battles  of  Waterloo,  Essling,  Wagram,  are 
fine ;  Poniatowsky's  Death  also.  The  pictures  of  Lord 
Moira  and  William  IV.,  in  full  length,  look  very  grand. 
The  bright  sun  of  this  climate  enables  one  to  view  this  mag- 
nificent structure  to  perfection.  I  have  never  seen  a  more 
splendid  palace  in  any  country ;  and  its  imposing  situation  on 
the  river  bank  adds  to  the  impression  it  makes.* 

"  We  read  together  Schwartz's  Life,  by  Pearson,  and  dear 
Henry  Marty n's  Journal,  lent  us  by  Boswell.  His  heaven- 
ly-minded effusions  always  do  my  heart  good,  but  Schwartz's 
cheerful  spirit  is  what  we  need  in  this  depressing  climate. 

"  We  reached  Rajmehal,  and  admired  the  beautiful  coun- 
try ;  visited  the  celebrated  ruins  of  various  fine  buildings, 
erected  by  the  son  of  Shah  Akbhar.  One  room  is  construct- 
ed of  white,  another  of  black  marble.  As  we  proceeded,  the 
hill  scenery  was  most  lively  and  romantic.  We  landed 
under  a  rocky  headland,  and  walked  on  shore  gathering  wild 
flowers.  The  view  at  Peerpointee  was  charming,  but  the 
navigation  was  difficult,  on  account  of  the  shallows,  and 
rapid  streams  of  the  river.  On  a  hill  in  the  midst  of  a 
wood,  we  saw  a  Hindu  temple,  with  a  spire  like  a  Christian 
church.  The  rocks  of  Colgong,  each  about  fifty  feet  high, 
and  rising  in  abrupt  masses,  looked,  in  the  distance,  as  if 
they  would  dispute  the  passage  of  the  river  with  us.  We 
went  on  shore,  and  walked  up  to  a  house  on  the  top  of  the 
hill.  The  view  was  Swiss-like ;  higher  hills  than  those  near 
us  reared  up  their  heads  towards  the  south ;  but  the  winding 

*  The  architect  of  this  structure  was  Major-Greneral  Madeod,  of  tho 
Bengal  Engineers. — Editor. 

10* 


226  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

river,  flowing  majestically  along  in  two  branches,  is  a  sight 
not  beheld  even  in  that  romantic  land. 

"  We  came  to  Bhagulpore  on  Christmas-day,  and  found 
a  brother  missionary  there,  Mr.  Leslie  of  Monghir,  who  had 
been  performing  divine  service  at  the  Judge's  house  ;  it  was 
concluded  just  as  we  reached.  I  had  not  seen  him  before, 
and,  at  first,  he  was  somewhat  reserved,  but  in  a  few  minutes 
he  tapped  me  on  the  shoulder  and  said,  '  I  see  you  are  a 
brother,  and  no  stiff  Churchman.'  He  left,  and  we  promised 
to  visit  him  as  we  passed  his  station.  In  the  evening,  every 
individual  in  this  large  station  assembled  to  a  second  service, 
and  we  enjoyed  a  delightful  season,  finding  several  pious 
people. 

"  On  returning  to  our  boat,  we  found  it  literally  crammed 
with  provisions  sent  by  our  kind  friends ;  a  live  sheep,  ready 
for  the  slaughter,  and  one  already  slain  ;  a  milch  goat,  poul 
try,  honey,  butter,  vegetables,  fruit,  flowers ;  we  could  not 
step  for  the  abundance.  We  divided  the  things  with  our 
fellow-travellers.  They  have,  indeed,  '  used  hospitality  to  us 
without  grudging.'  We  promised  to  give  them  a  Sabbath 
on  our  return.  They  are  most  desirous  to  obtain  a  mission- 
ary, and  would  pay  his  salary  in  full  and  give  him  a  house. 
A  devoted  man  of  God,  Mr.  Christian,*  was  stationed  here 
some  years  ago  ;  but  travelling  in  the  hills  too  early,  he,  his 
wife,  his  children,  his  catechist,  and  seven  servants,  all  fell  a 
prey  to  the  hill-fever,  and  lie  together  in  the  little  burial 
ground.  We  saw  an  affecting  and  humiliating  sight  the  day 
after  leaving  Bhagulpore  ;  the  skeleton  of  a  Hindu,  in  perfect 
preservation,  lying  on  the  banks ;  the  tendons  still  connect- 
ing every  bone,  even  to  the  toes  and  fingers,  and  a  perfect 
set  of  teeth  in  the  jaw.    '  What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mind- 

*  Connected  with  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts,  by  which  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  found  a  mission 
at  Bhagulpore,  at  the  instance  of  Bishop  Heber. 


SITA  COON. 


221 


fill  of  him  !'  said  David.  Yea  what,  thought  I,  as  I  beheld 
this  forsaken  tenement,  when  the  immortal  spirit  has  left  it ! 
Yet  is  man  destined  to  outlive  the  world  on  which  we  move. 
We  reached  Monghir  on  Sunday,  and  had  the  pleasure  of 
hearing  Mr.  Leslie  preach.  There  is  no  other  place  of  wor- 
ship  but  his  chapel  at  the  station,  and  no  minister  but 
himself.*  He  had  a  fine  congregation.  It  is  an  invalid  sta- 
tion, and  he  has  been  very  useful  among  them  ;  but  he  is  a 
diligent  itinerating  missionary.  Our  Baptist  brethren  set  us 
an  example  in  this  respect.  On  Monday,  we  visited  Sita 
Coon,  a  hot  spring  very  celebrated  in  Hindu  mythology.  It 
is  some  eighteen  feet  square.  It  issues  from  rocky  ground^ 
and  bubbles  out  in  such  abundance,  that  it  forms  a  rivulet 
which  might  turn  a  mill.  The  water  is  near  boiling  heat, 
but  possesses  no  mineral  qualities.  It  is  frequently  export- 
ed, and  is  said  to  keep  for  years.  There  are  two  idol  tem- 
ples attached  to  the  spot,  and  a  number  of  Brahmuns  who 
perform  worship.  It  is  a  place  of  resort  for  pilgrims  ;  and 
about  fifty  Brahmun  families  are  supported  by  the  offerings 
they  make.  They  asked  us  for  a  present,  which  we  of  course 
declined  to  give.  Figures  of  Ram,  Sita,  Luckshee,  and 
Honyman,  each  about  a  foot  high,  were  placed  in  one  of  the 
temples.  The  legend  is,  that  Sita,  the  wife  of  Ram,  once 
bathed  here ;  and,  on  her  leaving  the  pool,  it  was  found  to 
be  hot,  and  has  remained  so  ever  since.  The  volcanic  ap- 
pearance of  the  ground  shows  that  there  must  be  a  wonder- 
ful apparatus  below,  which  keeps  this  mass  of  water  con- 
tinually boiling.  We  afterwards  ascended  a  lovely  hill,  and 
enjoyed  one  of  the  most  perfect  prospects  I  ever  beheld. 
The  Ganges  was  winding  along  through  the  vast  plain, 
towards  the  north  and  west.  Detached  hills  appeared  in  the 
south-east,  and  smaller  ones,  mingled  with  abrupt  masses 

*  There  is  now  an  East-India  Company's  Chaplain  appointed  for  the 
Europeans  at  Monghir  and  Bhagrulpore, 


228  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

of  rock,  between  these  and  our  own  position.  A  few  villages 
were  scattered  at  irregular  distances,  surrounded  by  green 
fields  full  of  wheat  and  barley,  with  beautiful  groves  of  palm 
and  mango  trees  interspersed  among  them.  In  the  distant 
south,  a  chain  of  hills  stretched  towards  Beerbhoom.  The 
cattle  were  slowly  wending  their  way  home  towards  the 
villages  in  large  herds ;  and  the  curling  smoke  arose  from 
the  roof  of  the  thatched  cottages.  All  was  illuminated  by 
the  bright  rays  of  the  evening  sun.  After  feasting  our  eyes 
and  our  hearts  with  this  view  of  God's  works  in  creation,  we 
entered  a  house,  and  sung  some  hymns  in  a  dome  which 
reverberates  very  remarkably.  This  house  upon  the  rock 
was  split  in  the  earthquake  of  1833.  (See  p.  119.)  Thus 
we  saw  that  an  earthly  house  may  be  torn  by  the  convul- 
sions of  nature,  even  though  founded  on  a  rock ;  but  those 
who  build  their  spiritual  house  by  faith  upon  Jesus,  the 
Rock  of  Ages,  shall  never  be  moved.  May  I  abide  in  Him 
to  the  end !" 


PATNA  AND  DINAPORE. 


229 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Benares — Return  Home — iNfr.  Wybrow  goes  to  G-omickpore — Death  of 
his  Sister — Tour  to  Maldah — Death  of  Wybrow — Close  of  the  Year — 
Another  Itineracy — ^Bishop's  Yisit — Embarks  for  Europe — ^Arrival 

1840—1842. 

"/aTi  1. — Our  present  position,  on  this  first  day  of  this 
year,  reminds  us  forcibly,  that  we  are  strangers  and  pilgrims 
on  earth,  as  all  our  fathers  were.  We  are  travelling  in  a 
boat  upon  a  mighty  river  in  a  heathen  land  ;  that  river  is 
hastening  to  the  ocean,  and  so  are  we  towards  that  of  eternity. 
May  our  journey  through  life,  as  missionaries,  resemble  this 
river  in  another  respect !  It  is  the  main  cause  of  the  great 
fertility  of  the  plains  of  Bengal.  May  our  souls  be  so 
abundantly  watered  by  the  river  of  life  during  this  year, 
that  we  may  be  made  the  medium  of  communicating  refresh- 
ing streams  to  the  poor  Hindus ! 

"  6ik. — We  reached  Patna,  and  walked  through  the  town 
to  Mr.  Start's  house,  but  did  not  find  him  at  home.  One  of 
his  missionaries  was,  however,  very  kind  to  us,  and  supplied 
all  our  wants.  The  natives  here  are  very  dirty  in  appear- 
ance and  habits,  and  much  less  prepossessing  in  every  re- 
spect than  Bengalis.  At  Dinapore  we  met  several  old  friends, 
Colonel  P.,  and  the  dear  pious  brother  Captain  B. ;  how  de- 
I'ghted  he  was  to  see  us !    A  few  friends  were  invited,  and 


230  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

we  passed  the  evening  in  profitable  conversation  and  singing. 
There  is  no  chaplain  here,  so  I  promised  to  stop  on  our  re- 
turn, and  give  them  a  Sabbath.*  At  Chupra,  a  dear  friend, 
the  Judge,  took  us  to  his  house.  We  had  Sunday  service,  and 
I  baptized  his  babe.  In  the  evening,  I  held  service  with  an 
indigo  planter's  family,  who  lived  on  the  river  side  near  our 
Ijoat.  It  was  a  long  time  since  they  had  heard  a  sermon  or 
a  prayer.  The  last  Sunday  in  our  boat  was  a  very  blessed 
one  to  dear  Mrs.  L.  We  took  her  under  our  protection  at 
Chinsurah,  at  the  request  of  her  friends ;  but  believing  her 
to  be  a  gay  person,  we  feared  her  society  would  be  no  en- 
joyment to  us.  The  Lord  has  graciously  ordered  it  otherwise. 
She  was  impressed  by  a  conversation  I  held  with  her,  the 
very  first  Sabbath  of  our  journey  at  Cutwa ;  she  has  been 
getting  increasingly  attached  to  us  ever  since,  and  has  been 
a  real  comfort  to  us.  Our  evenings  together  have  been 
sweet  and  profitable  ;  and  she  looks  forward  to  parting  with 
us  with  sorrow.  It  is  evident  she  has  received  a  blessing  for 
her  soul.  Our  journey  is  happily  finished ;  Benares  is  in  sight, 
and  we  shall  soon  be  with  dear  brethren !  If  this  is  joy, 
what  will  that  be  when  life's  journey  is  finished,  and  the 
New  Jerusalem  is  in  sight;  and  when  angels  will  stand 
ready  to  convey  us  as  faithful  servants  into  the  congregation 
of  perfected  saints !" 

The  journal  goes  on  to  describe  "  Benares,  as  a  place 
wholly  given  to  idolatry;  containing  one  thousand  Shiva 
temples,  and  two  hundred  Mohammedan  mosques,  one  of 
which  was  built  upon  the  ruins  of  a  splendid  Shiva  temple, 
by  one  of  the  Mohammedan  conquerors.  The  massive  walls 
are  partly  standing,  and  are  seen  under  ihe  more  simple 

*  Mr.  "Weitbrecht  did  not  meet  -with  a  single  chaplain  on  this  long 
trip ;  a  speaking  fact,  showing  the  inadequacy  of  the  supply  to  the  needs 
of  Europeans  in  India.  Their  number  has,  however,  been  a  little  in- 
creased since. 


THE  MISSIONARIES  OF  BENARES. 


231 


modem  structure,  which  the  conqueror's  pride  raised  upon 
them.  We  visited  the  most  famous  of  these  temples,  which 
are  built  of  stone,  and  claim  admiration  for  their  exquisite 
workmanship  in  sculpture. 

"  We  ascended  one  of  the  minarets,  built  by  Aurungzeb  ; 
a  splendid  monument  of  the  Mohammedan  dominion ;  from 
whence  we  had  a  fine  view  of  the  city  and  its  narrow  streets. 
The  houses  are  four  and  six  stories  high ;  a  conveyance  can 
hardly  pass  through  the  tortuous  avenues ;  nor  do  the  sun's 
rays  penetrate  in  many  places.  The  Church  Missionary  So- 
ciety has  four  preaching  chapels  in  this  vast  city ;  and  the 
brethren  preach  twice  a  week  in  each.  Two  native  catechists 
assist  them.*  The  Boys'  Orphan  Institution  interested  us 
much.  One  day  Leupolt  took  me  to  preach  in  a  part  of  the 
city  inhabited  by  Bengalis;  and  another  day  we  visited 
Sonaat,  and  saw  the  ruins  of  one  of  the  ancient  temples 
which  existed  when  Budhism  prevailed  in  India.  There 
were  numbers  of  stone  images  lying  about.  I  removed  the 
heads  of  two  of  the  most  perfect  specimens,  which  I  will  take 
home  with  me.  We  saw  a  new  temple,  the  marble  sculpture 
of  which,  and  the  ceiling,  painted  in  lively  colors,  are  ex- 
quisitely beautiful." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  wrote  to  a  sister,  on  his  way  home  :  "  The 
missionaries  at  Benares  have  an  interesting  but  arduous  field 
of  labor.  They  are  a  very  united  band  of  brethren,  and  it 
is  no  small  enjoyment  to  spend  a  season  among  them,  as  we 
have  done.  They  are  of  three  different  societies,  but  are  on 
intimate  terms  together,  and  'they  honored  us  with  many 
honors ;'  indeed,  the  kindness  and  love  they,  one  and  all, 
showed  us  was  overpowering.  This  has  been  the  case  wher- 
ever we  have  come  to  Christian  friends  on  this  trip.  I  hope 
you  have  seen  my  dear  sister  in  London.    She  is  gone  to 

*  This  mission  has  much  increased  since. 


232  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

an  unhealthy  climate,  Sierra  Leone ;  but  I  trust  the  Lord 
may  spare  her  to  labor  for  some  years." 

The  journal  of  this  date  notices  the  immense  swell  pro- 
duced in  the  river  by  about  twenty  thousand  Hindus  rush- 
ing into  it  at  once  on  a  given  signal,  upon  the  occasion  of 
an  eclipse  of  the  moon ;  it  also  gives  the  particulars  of  a 
visit  he  paid  to  a  party  of  German  missionaries  at  Hadje- 
pore,  who  had  been  brought  out  to  India  by  a  very  devoted 
Christian,  Mr.  Start.  Twenty  were  residing  together  under 
one  roof,  engaged  in  learning  the  language.  The  three 
female  missionaries  prepared  the  food,  and  waited  on  all. 
These  brethren  were  afterwards  stationed  in  different  local- 
ities. It  then  records  a  visit  to  Krishnaghur,  and  the  breth- 
ren who  had  been  recently  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
numerous  converts  there,  Messrs  Blumhardt,  Lipp,  and 
Krauss.  Mr.  Weitbrecht  assisted  them  by  his  advice  re- 
specting their  locations.  They  reached  Burdwan  on  the  1st 
April,  when  he  prays  the  Lord  to  bless  their  coming  in,  as 
He  had  done  their  going  out,  from  this  time  forth  and  for 
evermore.  He  had  rested  from  much  speaking  on  this 
trip,  and  his  throat  was  now  stronger,  so  that  he  could  en- 
gage again  with  fresh  ardor  in  his  work ;  and  his  journal 
manifests  that  he  was  not  backward  to  do  so.  All  through 
the  broiling  heat  of  May,  he  was  toiling  about  in  Bengali 
villages,  among  people  who  manifested  much  interest  in 
religion.  His  hopes  rose  and  fell  alternately.  "  I  visited 
some  families  in  their  cottages,"  he  writes,  "  and  sat  down 
with  them,  and  endeavored  to  show  them  what  happy 
families  they  would  be,  if,  instead  of  continuing  blind  idola- 
ters, they  would  but  turn  to  the  true  God,  and  address  Him 
as  their  heavenly  Father.  They  heard  with  silence  and  at- 
tention." Again,  in  another  entry :  "  Received  a  letter 
written  by  seven  respectable  Hindus,  who  desire  Christian 
instruction.    Two  hundred  individuals  are,  they  say,  ready 


REMOVAL  OF  WYBROW. 


233 


to  be  instructed.  I  sent  off  two  catechists  to  the  spot,  to 
inquire  into  the  movement.  Oh !  that  it  may  be  real !" 
Alas  !  it  was  not.  "  I  preached  a  missionary  sermon  in  our 
English  chapel,  on  the  words, '  The  Lord  has  made  bare  his 
holy  arm,'  etc.  When  will  the  happy  time  come  for  this 
nation  1  I  have  preached  incessantly  all  this  month,  and  I 
had  a  meeting  with  Lincke  at  Pentecost.  We  prayed  ear- 
nestly together  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit.  We  usually 
unite  every  Saturday  evening,  and  pour  out  our  hearts  in 
German.  I  find  these  sometimes  blessed  seasons.  In  medi- 
tating on  the  words,  '  Ye  are  come  to  Mount  Zion,'  etc., 
Heb.  12  :  22,  23,  24, 1  thought,  why  may  not  a  child  of  God 
live  half  in  heaven  even  now,  if  he  do  but  recollect  in  what 
a  close  connection  he  stands  to  Jesus,  and  the  happy  inhab- 
itants of  that  blessed  place 

The  removal  of  his  beloved  brother  Wybrow  from  Bengal, 
in  July,  affected  him  deeply ;  and,  in  August,  he  wrote  to 
Mr.  Coates  thus :  "  The  dear  Wybrows  left  Calcutta  on 
the  12th  of  June  to  labor  at  Gorruckpore.  This  removal 
is  a  source  of  deep  regret  to  all  who  are  acquainted  with  the 
wants  of  our  mission  in  Calcutta.  Mr.  Wybrow  was  able  to 
preach  in  the  Bengali  language,  with  much  readiness  and 
acceptance ;  and  as  that  department  of  missionary  labor 
has,  for  years,  been  left  unoccupied  in  Calcutta,  as  far  as 
our  Society  is  concerned,  though  the  Dissenters  have  several 
popular  and  excellent  preachers  in  their  heathen  chapels, 
nothing  could  have  been  better,  in  the  present  state  of  the 
native  mind,  than  that  one  so  well  fitted  should  have  remain- 
ed to  occupy  that  sphere.  In  Gorruckpore  he  will  have  to 
acquire  another  language. 

"  Besides  this,  his  English  ministry  was  greatly  blessed 
in  Calcutta  ;  and  this  he  exercised  without  interfering  with 
his  regular  missionary  labors,  from  the  uncommon  gifts 


234  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

bestowed  on  him,  and  the  great  facility  with  which  he  could 
exercise  his  talent. 

"If,  however,  matters  could  not  be  arranged  for  Mr. 
Wybrow  to  be  placed  again  in  Calcutta,  he  would  be  the 
very  man  for  Burdwan,  a  sphere  which  I  alone  am  quite  un- 
equal to.  Besides  this,  my  constitution  is  affected,  and  I  fear 
I  must  return  home  a  year  or  two  hence.  Most  cordially 
therefore  do  I  join  in  the  hope  expressed  in  this  month's 
'  Calcutta  Christian  Intelligencer,'  that  this  removal  is  but  a 
temporary  one." 

The  preceding  letters  show  clearly  the  great  scarcity  of 
laborers  in  India,  and  this  was  a  subject  that  was  now  caus- 
ing Mr.  Weitbrecht  peculiar  anxiety;  for  though  he  had 
derived  some  temporary  benefit  from  his  trip,  his  constitu- 
tion was,  as  he  observes,  "  really  affected,"  and  neither  his 
own  nor  his  wife's  health  allowed  them  to  contemplate 
more  than  another  year  or  two  of  labor.  "I  feel,"  he 
writes,  "  as  if  my  lungs  and  chest  were  becoming  weaker 
every  year,"  and  Mr.  Lincke  was  any  thing  but  strong.  It 
was  a  painful  prospect,  after  all  his  labors,  and  all  his  ef- 
forts in  "  building  up  a  little  Zion,"  to  contemplate  leaving 
his  sphere,  and  his  people  unprovided  for,  but  he  was  at 
last  compelled  to  do  this ;  and  as  he  feared,  Mr.  Lincke  soon 
after  had  to  follow  him,  and  the  Christian  flock  actually 
remained  "  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd,"  for  a  considera- 
ble period. 

How  he  sustained  his  spirit  under  these  trials  we  learn 
from  his  journal,  where  he  says,  "  Being  overwhelmed  with 
anxieties,  I  opened  my  treasury,  and  read,  '  The  Lord  went 
before  the  children  of  Israel  by  day  in  a  pillar  of  cloud,  and 
by  night  in  a  pillar  of  fire.'  This  comforted  me.  Didst 
Thou,  O  Jehovah !  afford  Thy  protecting  presence  to  those, 
who  so  often  rebelled  against  Thee  ?  Then  wilt  thou  surely 


THE  CHURCH  EXHORTED. 


235 


be  with  Thy  people  now,  who  have  been  washed  in  the  Red 
Sea  of  Thy  blood." 

"  Hitherto  missionary  societies  have  too  much  dealt  with 
India  and  other  places,  as  on  an  equal  footing.  Ten  mis- 
sionaries are  sent  to  New-Zealand  and  to  Africa,  and  ten  to 
Bengal.  In  one  case  the  country  has  thousands,  and  in  the 
other  hundreds  of  (housands  of  inhabitants.  All  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  West-India  Islands  and  of  the  South-Sea  Islands 
could  be  received  into  Bengal  to-morrow,  and  the  popula- 
tion would  not  be  augmented  one  fifteenth,  and  the  supply 
of  food  would  be  superabundant  still.  In  one  single  district 
in  Bengal — Burdwan  for  instance — there  is  a  larger  popula- 
tion, than  in  all  the  West-India  and  South-Sea  Islands  taken 
together.  Such  is  one  province  of  Bengal,  and  Bengal  is 
but  one  province  of  India.  Yet  missionaries  are  sent  out  by 
twos  and  threes ;  and  rich  men  subscribe  to  great  mission- 
ary societies  their  cold  formal  fee  of  one  guinea."  * 

To  this  startling  paragraph  may  just  be  added,  that  if  we 
can  imagine  what  London  would  be,  and  how  its  inhabitants 
would  prosper  spiritually,  if  they  were  all  under  the  care  of 
one  solitary  evangelist,  we  may  understand  what  Burdwan 
is,  similarly  situated.  The  number  of  inhabitants  is  about 
the  same  in  each  place. 

The  Church  has  not  yet  risen,  en  masse,  with  all  its  mighty 
resources  of  faith,  prayer,  piety,  property,  and  influence ;  it 
has  not  yet  taken  the  field  in  good  earnest ;  it  still  resembles 
an  army  under  review ;  there  is  much  of  the  show  and  noise 
of  military  movement,  but  the  tug  of  war  is  not  come ;  the 
shock  of  battle  is  not  felt,  consequently  the  trophies  of  vic- 
tory are  not  seen.f    There  is  no  intelligent  perception,  no 

*  Letter  of  Mr.  "Wylie,  Esq.,  Secretary  Calcutta  Bible  Society,  to 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 
I  See  London  City  Mission  Magazine  for  May.  1853,  page  90, 


236  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

deep  conviction,  and  no  frank  acknowledgment  from  all  its 
members,  that  it  is  its  own  business  to  convert  the  world ; 
and  there  is  wanting  a  sense  of  individual  obligation,  fol- 
lowing each  professing  Christian  through  his  whole  life. 
The  Church  is  a  collection  of  individuals.  God  gave  each 
one  to  Jesus  individually,  and  He  gave  Jesus  as  the  indivi- 
dual Saviour  to  each ;  therefore  every  Christian  ought  to 
feel  as  if  the  conversion  of  the  world  depended  upon  him, 
upon  his  faith,  his  prayers,  his  self-devotedness ;  for  so  it 
does  in  a  measure.  All  Christians  allow,  that  the  world 
needs  to  be  evangelized,  and  should  be  evangelized ;  but 
how  few  ask  themselves  :  "  Is  it  my  duty  to  go  forth  on  this 
holy  errand  f  When  the  Church  really  rises  from  the  dust, 
and  puts  on  its  beautiful  garments,  its  activity  will  no 
longer  depend  on  the  excitement  of  public  meetings  and 
eloquent  speeches,  or  even  on  the  picturesque  and  touching 
records  of  missionary  life.  The  flow  of  zeal,  to  be 
thoroughly  effective,  must  resemble  the  mighty,  regular, 
and  silent  course  of  the  river  to  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  so 
often  alludes.  Oh !  that  all  bearing  the  name  of  that 
Saviour  "  who  for  us  men  and  for  our  salvation  came  down 
from  heaven,"  might  be  led  to  make  this  subject  matter  of 
private  meditation,  of  solemn  conference  with  themselves, 
of  solitary  musings  in  their  holiest  hours ;  and  oh !  that  all 
might  be  led  to  more  earnest  wrestlings  with  the  Lord  and 
Giver  of  life,  for  the  Holy  Spirit,  whose  influence  alone  can 
convert  the  world,  to  descend  upon  us !  He  will  not  come 
unless  He  is  entreated  for.  We  must,  as  the  missionary 
Rhenius  said,  who  numbered  his  converts  by  thousands, 
"  Believe — ^pray — ^labor — pray  again — and  praise." 

After  another  severe  trial  of  faith,  it  pleased  God  again 
to  show  that  his  presence  was  still  amongst  His  people  at 
Burdwan.  A  girl,  who  was  servant  in  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
house,  and  who  had  been  savingly  impressed  by  Mr. 


HIS  sister's  death. 


237 


Wybrow's  preaching,  expressed  her  desire  for  baptism, 
and  was  admitted  into  the  little  flock,  to  which  she  proved 
a  true  and  real  addition,  during  the  few  years  her  life  was 
spared. 

He  also  records  a  visit  he  made  to  the  Rajah,  who  placed 
him  beside  him,  and  then  gave  audience  to  a  number  of 
Brahmuns,  who  came  in  to  bestow  their  blessing  upon  His 
Highness,  by  holding  flowers  to  his  forehead  and  repeating 
a  few  words  in  Sanscrit.  This  led  to  an  interesting  conver- 
sation ;  and  he  says  :  "  May  the  Lord  give  me  wisdom  and 
boldness,  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  this  amiable  young 
man  !  I  often  pray  for  his  conversion.  Were  he,  even  for- 
mally, to  renounce  idolatry,  and  withdraw  his  support  from 
it,  it  would  have  much  influence  in  hastening  its  downfall  in 
this  district,  and  in  all  Bengal."  "  Koilas  has  just  told  me 
of  an  interesting  scene  that  took  place  the  other  day  in  Cal- 
cutta. Bannerjea  invited  all  his  converted  brethren  to  dine 
with  him,  and  forty  well-educated  young  men,  mostly  of 
the  Brahmun  and  Kashto  castes,  sat  together  around  his 
table,  which  was  headed  by  his  nice,  intelligent  young  wife ! 
What  a  cheering  scene  in  a  heathen  land  !" 

The  afflicting  news  of  his  dear  sister's  death  reached  him 
this  month.  She  had  been  but  a  few  months  in  Sierra 
Leone  when  she  was  removed.  Her  lovely  character  had 
already  made  an  impression ;  and,  after  her  death,  a  little 
negro  boy  was  one  day  found  sitting  on  her  grave  weeping, 
who  said  his  "  heart  was  sad,  because  his  friend  was  gone, 
who  used  to  talk  to  him  about  Jesus,  and  to  pray  with  him 
to  the  good  God."  "The  imexpected  news,"  he  writes, 
"  reminds  me  most  forcibly  of  the  change  that  may  soon 
take  place  with  me.  May  I  ever  stand  ready  to  meet  the 
Bridegroom,  and  to  respond  when  He  says,  '  Come  up 
hither  !'  "  Thus  was  he  continually  taught  those  precious 
lessons  in  the  shade,  which  none  can  learn  in  the  sunshine  ; 


238  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  thus  did  he  learn  to  walk  lowlily  before  God,  as  well  as 
gracefully  before  men. 

By  an  arrangement  of  the  pious  judge  of  Beerbhoom,  it  was 
rendered  practicable  for  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  visit  that  station 
at  stated  periods,  from  this  time  forward.  In  October,  he 
proceeded  there  in  unusually  depressed  health  ;  and  after  a 
sojourn  of  some  days,  he  went  forward  to  Bhagulpore,  where 
he  had  been  invited  to  perform  special  ministerial  duties. 
He  then  crossed  over  to  Maldah  on  a  similar  errand,  and 
returned  home  by  way  of  Krishnaghur  and  Calcutta.  This 
long  and  circuitous  mission-tour  occupied  him  to  the  end  of 
the  year.  A  few  incidents  chiefly  referring  to  his  return 
from  it  follow,  extracted  from  letters  : 

"  On  my  journey  down  the  river,  I  went  on  shore  at  the 
spot  where  we  saw  the  poor  Hindu  casting  his  father's  corpse 
into  the  Ganges,  and  copied  the  epitaph  from  the  little  tomb 
we  noticed  there.  Here  are  the  beautiful  lines.  What  a 
contrast  they  exhibit  to  the  reply  of  that  poor  fellow,  when 
we  asked  him  about  his  hopes  for  eternity  ! 

"  Dear  little  babe,  thy  spirit  fled, 

Thy  tender  frame  lies  here. 
And  o'er  thy  loved  remains  we  shed 

The  bitter,  bitter  tear. 
But  faith  within  the  Saviour's  arms 

Views  thee  removed  from  pain ; 
And  faith  the  sting  of  death  disarms, 

And  says,  We'll  meet  again, 
"When  we,  through  Christ,  shall  be  like  thee, 
Heirs  of  a  blest  eternity." 

"What  a  delightful  effusion  of  faith  in  Jesus  to  find  on  the 
shores  of  the  deified  Ganges  ! 

"After  leaving  Maldah,  I  went  on  an  elephant  to  the  ruins 
of  Gour,  the  old  capital  of  Bengal.  The  rampart,  of  from 
eight  to  ten  miles  in  circumference,  is  still  to  be  seen,  and 


CONVERT  MURDERED. 


239 


one  immense  gate,  and  old  mosques,  old  tombs,  and  splendid 
remains  of  fine  buildings ;  but  the  place  is  a  horrid  desert, 
with  wild  jungle  reeds  and  rushes,  reminding  one  of  Keith's 
description  of  Babylon,  according  to  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah. 
The  dragons  mentioned  there  are  undoubtedly  alligators, 
which  can  be  seen  at  Gour  ;  the  satyrs  dancing,  a  large  kind 
of  monkeys,  which  are  here  found  likewise ;  the  ochim  and 
ziim,  flying  foxes,  (a  kind  of  bat,)  with  which  these  ruins  are 
swarming;  besides  a  most  remarkable  variety  of  water-birds, 
such  as  I  have  never  seen  before.  Though  the  place  is  on  a 
plain,  consisting  of  arable  ground,  there  is  not  one  dwelling 
to  be  seen ;  and  though  the  people  come  from  a  distance  to 
catch  fish,  birds,  etc.,  and  to  cut  reeds,  it  is  a  complete  deso- 
lation.* 

"  On  reaching  Krishnagur,  I  found  all  the  missionaries  at 
the  station,  and  I  proposed  to  them  to  have  a  weekly  prayer- 
meetmg  together,  so  we  began  at  once.  I  shall  go  out  with 
the  brethren  into  the  villages  and  preach  as  much  as  I  can, 
for  it  is  right  to  embrace  the  opportunity  of  usefulness,  when 
instruction,  is  so  much  wanted,  and  it  may  be  a  great  bless- 
ing to  the  poor  people.  The  Christians  are  sadly  persecuted ; 
one  was  lately  murdered  by  a  Zemindar.  The  brethren  are 
greatly  comforted  that  I  can  go  with  them  to  the  villages ; 
they  have  asked  my  advice  on  many  points,  and  are,  one  and 
all,  most  willing  to  receive  a  word  in  season  from  an  elder 
brother. 

"  As  I  preached  in  the  villages,  morning,  noon,  and  night, 
and  beheld  the  willingness  of  the  converts  to  listen,  I  longed 
to  see  able,  pious,  and  devoted  teachers  among  them ;  but 
no  mission-houses  can  be  ready  before  another  year.  Yester- 
day, we  measured  out  the  ground  for  Lipp's  house.  There 
are  mud-walled  bungalows  ready,  which  they  intend  to 


*  For  a  more  minute  description  of  these  ruins,  see  farther  on. 


240         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

inhabit,  as  constantly  as  they  can,  till  the  dwellings  are 
done.  Poor  fellows !  it  is  all  up-hill  work  to  them,  with 
the  language  ;  building,  arranging,  commencing  schools,  etc.; 
but  they  are  in  earnest,  and  they  will  do  well. 

"  I  am  once  more  on  the  water,  sailing  towards  Calcutta. 
Before  leaving  Krishnaghur,  I  had  another  prayer-meeting 
with  the  brethren ;  six  German  missionaries  praying  with 
each  other  in  German.  It  brought  home  to  our  recollection, 
the  blessings  enjoyed  with  beloved  friends  in  olden  days. 
Another  dear  brother  is  gone,  Mr.  PifFard.  It  is  a  very 
serious  loss,  as  he  was  a  thorough  missionary,  and  supported 
himself  and  helped  all  his  brethren.  I  long  to  be  with  you 
again,  more  than  ever  I  have  yet  done,  and  trust  to  reach 
home  so  as  to  preach  on  Christmas-day.  Mrs.  Wilson  has 
begged  me  to  stop  at  Agurparah  and  preach  to  her  girls. 

"  My  dear  cousin  Pfander  accompanied  me  part  of  the 
way  towards  home.*  We  recapitulated  to  each  other  the 
wonderful  dealings  of  God  towards  us,  during  our  missionary 
life.  He  is  about  to  leave  Bengal,  and  I  bid  him  adieu  at 
Agurparah,  perhaps  for  ever."  "When  I  reached  Burdwan," 
adds  the  journal,  "  I  found  my  beloved  wife  and  family  all 
well ;  and  we  united  in  praising  the  Lord." 

A  paragraph  from  the  journal  will  close  the  year  :  "  Last 
Sunday  I  preached  on  death,  from  the  words,  '  Blessed  are 
the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,'  etc.  The  following  morning, 
I  heard  of  the  departure  of  my  beloved  brother  Wybrow.  I 

*  Mr,  Pfander,  not  having  received  any  encouragement  from  the  Basle 
Society  to  begin  a  mission  in  Central  India,  had,  as  was  before  stated, 
wisely  declined  entering  on  a  new  sphere  unsupported  by  a  public  body  ; 
he  had  therefore  connected  himself  with  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
and  was  now  proceeding  to  Agra.  His  sphere  of  labor  there  has  been 
pecuHar,  and  similar  to  that  commenced  by  Henry  Martyn,  that  is,  chiefly 
controversial,  and  directed  towards  the  learned  Mussulmans.  He  has 
been  singularly  blessed  in  it  during  the  last  two  years,  and  has  had 
several  remarkable  converts  from  that  class.    See  p.  204. 


SOLEMN  EVENTS. 


241 


had  unconsciously  preached  his  funeral  sermon.  lie  was 
called  to  his  reward  on  the  19th.  Oh!  what  a  loss  to  the 
Church  in  India !  What  a  mysterious  dispensation  !  He 
was  attacked  by  fever  while  in  the  Christian  village,  in  the 
jungles  near  Gorruckpore.  How  I  tried  to  prevent  his  going 
to  that  unhealthy  station,  with  a  constitution  already 
impaired !  I  had  a  presentiment  of  what  would  befall  him 
there  ;  alas  !  how  soon  to  be  realized.  He  was  not  the  man 
for  the  place,  but  our  times  are  in  God's  hand.  Truly  the 
lot  is  fallen  to  thee  in  pleasant  places,  for  thou  wast  ripe  for 
the  heavenly  glory.  Soon  we  shall  meet  thee  before  the 
throne  of  that  Saviour  thou  didst  so  much  resemble  in  His 
divine  love.  What  a  meeting  must  it  have  been,  the  soul  of 
such  a  believer  disenshrined  from  the  body  of  clay,  and  receiv- 
ing from  the  Eedeemer's  hand  the  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth 
not  away  !  He  was  indeed  a  very  dear  brother  to  us,  and 
our  affection  for  each  other  was  mutually  strong ;  but  we 
are  all  near  to  the  grave,  and  '  a  little  while'  will  unite  us 
again  for  ever ! 

"  It  is  a  solemn  time.  Messrs.  Hughes,  Evans,  PifFard, 
Parsons,  the  beloved  Pearce,*  and  now  the,  to  me,  still  more 
beloved  Wybrow,  all  gone  home  this  year.  May  the  thought 
of  these  transfigured  dear  ones  awaiting  our  coming,  lead  us 
to  hasten  forward  to  the  goal  which  they  have  already 
attained ! 

"  Children  of  God,  who  receive  occasionally  a  sweet  fore- 
taste of  heaven,  are  not  unlike  a  person  in  prison,  who  views 
a  beautiful  landscape  from  a  great  distance  ;  he  longs  to  be 

*  A  Baptist  missionary  in  Calcutta,  who  wTote  a  tract  in  Bengali, 
entitled,  "  The  True  Refuge,"  which  contains  a  beautifully  sunple  yet 
forcible  elucidation  of  the  subject  on  which  it  treats,  set  forth  with 
remarkable  unction.  It  has  been  the  means  of  converting  hundreds, 
perhaps  thousands,  of  Hindus  in  Bengal  and  Orissa,  and  is  decidedly 
the  most  blessed  tract  that  has  ever  appeared  in  those  languages. 
11 


242  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

free,  and  rejoices  that  the  day  of  his  liberty  is  approach 
ing." 

In  the  journal  of  Jan.  1,  1841,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  writes : 
"  May  a  deeper  sense  of  my  corruption  bring  me  at  last  to 
real  humility ;  and  may  the  sweet  blessings  of  the  Gospel 
draw  my  heart  nearer  to  my  Saviour  during  this  year !" 

On  the  13th  he  went  to  a  large  fair  with  Mr.  Lincke  and 
his  catechists,  under  the  pressure  of  so  much  bodily  suffering, 
that  he  writes :  "I  was  unable  to  speak  for  any  length  of 
time  together  ;  but  we  distributed  twelve  hundred  tracts  and 
fifty  Gospels,  among  the  vast  assemblage  of  ten  thousand 
immortal  beings,  who  had  met  to  honor  Krishna."  One  is 
reminded  by  such  entries  as  the  above,  of  his  expression  in  a 
letter  to  his  mother :  "  I  will  not  seek  days  of  ease,  but 
strive  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  faithfully  to  the  poor  idolaters, 
among  whom  my  lot  may  be  cast."  The  year  on  which  he 
had  now  entered  was  one  of  almost  constant  indisposition, 
from  the  thoroughly  impaired  state  of  his  constitution  ;  but 
his  journal  is  as  full  as  usual  of  records  of  tours,  and  other 
efforts  made  by  him  for  disseminating  the  knowledge  of  the 
Loid.  When  he  was  tenderly  remonstrated  with,  his  reply 
was  :  "  It  is  better  to  wear  out  than  to  rust  out ;"  and  had  it 
not  been  for  the  timely  arrival  of  a  dear  relative,  who  per- 
ceived the  reduced  state  into  which  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
brought,  he  would  never  have  taken  the  decided  step  of  retir- 
ing for  a  season ;  but  would  rather,  as  some  other  devoted 
men  have  done,  have  died  at  his  post.  But  his  Master  had 
more  work  in  reserve  for  him,  ere  he  was  to  enjoy  his  reward; 
and  He  employed  the  earnest  expostulations  of  an  affectionate 
friend,  to  lead  him  to  a  clear  perception  of  his  duty,  which 
was  evidently  to  seek  rest  and  recovery  in  his  native  country. 
It  is  a  difficult  thing  for  the  solitary,  or  nearly  solitary 
laborer  in  a  heathen  land  to  realize  that  he  can  be  done  with- 
out, in  a  sphere  where  so  much  devolves  upon  his  individual 


ERRONEOUS  DOCTRINES. 


343 


self,  and  where  he  is  apt  to  fall  into  the  error  of  supposing 
himself,  as  Henry  Martyn  expresses  it,  "  an  Atlas,  having  to 
bear  the  whole  world  upon  his  shoulders."  His  natural 
inclinations,  when,  as  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  he 
has  an  attached  and  beloved  circle  awaiting  him  at  home, 
and  earnestly  inviting  him  to  come,  must  draw  him  towards 
it ;  but  his  sense  of  duty  acts  as  a  strong  counterpoise,  and 
makes  the  decision  most  difficult,  often  almost  impossible, 
when  unaided  by  the  advice  and  better  judgment  of  another, 
who  can  from  circumstances  see  more  correctly  than  the  indi- 
vidual, who  is  so  deeply  interested  in  the  question,  can  himself. 

During  this  month,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  welcomed  an  esteem- 
ed brother,  Mr.  Innes,  to  Burdwan,  who  had  been  appointed 
acting-secretary  to  the  Corresponding  Committee  in  Cal- 
cutta. His  arrival  at  the  station  was  very  opportune,  and 
enabled  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  converse  with  him  on  several 
important  subjects.  One  of  these  concerned  a  young  man, 
named  Joy  Gopal,  who  had  been  sent  to  Burdwan  as  Eng- 
lish schoolmaster,  and  had  given  the  missionaries  much  pain 
and  uneasiness,  by  advocating  some  erroneous  doctrines, 
then  beginning  to  manifest  themselves  in  India  rather  exten- 
sively, and  which,  being  agreeable  to  the  self-righteousness 
of  the  natural  man,  gained  ground  in  too  many  instances. 
"  We  had,"  whites  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  a  long  and  most  im- 
portant, as  well  as  very  interesting,  conversation  with  Joy 
Gopal ;  and  Mr.  Innes  reasoned  with  him  in  a  clear,  patient, 
and  convincing  way ;  but  the  poor  lad's  views  are  wholly 
carnal.  He  has  lately  published  a  paper  in  the  '  Intelligen- 
cer,' in  which  he  set  forth  the  necessity  of  high  payment  to 
native  catechists  and  missionaries,  as  the  only  measure  which 
was  calculated  to  secure  the  respect  of  wealthy  Hindus,  and 
success  in  their  work.  He  even  went  so  far,  as  to  place  high 
respectability,  founded  on  high  salaries,  in  the  place  of  the 
miraculous  power  possessed  by  the  apostles." 


244 


MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


On  a  long  mission-tour,  wliich  he  took  subsequently, 
partly  in  the  company  of  Mr.  Lincke,  and  partly  in  that  of 
Mr.  Kruckeberg,  some  incidents  occurred  which  are  wor- 
thy of  note.    We  quote  from  the  journal : 

"  Jan.  20. — I  sat  down  in  an  open  building,  where  I  found 
many  respectable  persons  assembled.  Three  Gosseins  con- 
.  versed  with  me  on  the  being  and  attributes  of  God,  His  wor- 
ship, salvation,  etc.  They  strenuously  maintained,  that  what 
the  Shasters  taught  on  these  points  must  be  true,because  they 
are  so  ancient,  and  believed  in  by  millions.  But  at  last, 
they  bowed  submission  to  my  arguments,  and  requested  me 
to  tell  them  what  I  believed  to  be  the  true  religion.  Upon 
this  welcome  invitation  I  read  Luke  15,  and  commented  on 
the  parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son ;  first  setting  forth  man's 
depravity  and  guilt,  and  then  God's  mercy  and  love,  in  par- 
doning and  restoring  sinners. 

"  '  Such  a  teacher,  and  such  words,  have  we  never  heard 
before,'  said  they.  Soon  after,  I  heard  the  owner  of  the 
house  explaining  to  a  new-comer,  that  I  was  '  a  great  Guroo,' 
and  that  the  three  Gosseins  had  all  been  confounded  by  my 
doctrine,  and  left  with  '  grass  in  their  mouths,'  an  expression 
signifying  the  most  abject  submission  of  a  slave  before  his 
master.  In  the  evening  they  came  again,  followed  by  a  crowd, 
and  one  advanced  as  spokesman:  'Although  you  speak 
against  our  gods,'  said  he,  '  we  like  to  hear  you,  you  are  so 
kind  and  amiable.  We  wish  to  converse  again  with  you  : 
please  tell  us  more.'  I  then  read  and  commented  upon  the 
first  two  commandments,  and  testified  most  freely  against 
idolatry.  They  tried  to  answer,  but  soon  found  their  ground 
untenable.  I  entreated  them  to  return,  and  worship  their 
and  our  Father ;  and  I  set  forth  the  true  atonement  made 
by  Christ.  Having  spoken  nearly  three  hours,  I  was  much 
exhausted ;  but  new  hearers  continuing  to  come  in,  I  put  my 
catechist  Peter  forward,  not  without  misgiving,  that  these 


SIX  YOUNG  BRAHMUN  INQUIRERS. 


245 


great  Gosseins  would  disdain  to  listen  to  a  man  of  such  hum- 
ble birth.  But  they  heard  and  approved  of  all  he  said ;  and, 
as  night  came  on,  begged  him  to  read  and  expound  another 
chapter  in  the  Gospel,  and  were  evidently  pleased  with  his 
simplicity  and  devotedness.  It  was  one  of  the  most  useful 
days  I  ever  spent  in  the  service  of  my  Saviour. 

"  I  returned  home  with  Lincke,  and  welcomed  some  dear 
missionary  brethren,  Mr.  Mather  and  his  family,  and  Kinicke- 
berg,  who  still  looks  sadly  delicate.  Our  house  was  very 
full ;  nine  grown  persons  and  nine  children  sitting  around  our 
table ;  it  was  very  refreshing  to  us,  to  be  so  surrounded  with 
beloved  friends  for  a  few  days.  Mather  was  anxious  to  see 
every  thing ;  he  is  a  very  active  and  superior  man,  and  has 
a  devoted  wife.  He  accompanied  me  to  the  bazaar  to  preach, 
and  we  went  to  visit  the  Rajah's  menagerie  and  collection  of 
birds,  which  are  well  worth  seeing.  On  returning  again  to 
the  villages,  Kruckeberg  accompanied  me ;  and  seemed  to 
derive  benefit  from  being  out  with  me,  in  the  nice  little  tent 
which  dear  Wybrow  gave  me,  I  am  now  much  more  com- 
fortable than  formerly,  when  I  had  to  find  shelter  in  dirty 
corners  of  native  huts  and  serais.  As  we  were  sitting 
do^vn  to  our  rice  and  curry,  six  well-dressed  Brahmun  lads 
came  and  sat  down  at  the  tent-door,  and  asked  for  Gospels  ; 
and  then  begged  me  to  tell  them  the  true  way  of  salvation, 
which  I  did,  and  afterwards  asked  them  what  they  thought 
of  their  own  worship.  '  Sir,  we  are  tired  of  it,'  was  their 
reply,  '  and  we  wish  to  become  as  you  are ;  will  you  not  re- 
ceive us,  and  take  us  with  you  V  I  was  rather  surprised, 
and  said,  '  Have  you  parents  V  One  had  a  mother,  another 
a  father,  a  third  both.  '  What  will  they  say  if  you  leave 
them  V  '  What  can  they  say  V  we  are  resolved  not  to  re- 
main in  idolatry.'  When  I  returned  from  the  village,  I 
wondered  to  find  them  sitting  quietly  with  Peter,  and  listen- 
ing to  his  conversation  with  deep  attention.    They  had  read 


246  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

tracts  received  some  years  ago  from  Lincke.  I  remember 
his  returning  from  this  village  much  encouraged.  The  Brah- 
muns  are  a  handsome  race,  and  the  youth  of  both  sexes  par- 
ticularly intelligent  and  interesting  in  appearance.  Oh !  how 
I  should  rejoice,  if  the  Lord  were  opening  a  door  in  this  popu- 
lous place,  among  such  an  influential  class  of  Hindus  !  Lord 
Jesus,  let  Thy  kingdom  come  with  power !  As  I  was  riding 
along  the  banks  of  the  Damudah  yesterday,  my  heart  was 
raised  up  in  hope,  and  pouring  out  its  desires  for  this  happy 
and  glorious  consummation.  May  He  who  promised,  '  Be- 
fore they  call  I  will  answer,  and  while  they  are  yet  speaking 
I  will  hear,'  send  forth  His  holy  angels,  to  gather  His  elect 
from  among  the  heathen  in  this  district,  into  His  kingdom 
of  grace." 

A  few  days  later  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  driven  home  by 
bad  weather.  It  was  providential,  for  Mr.  Lincke's  school- 
house  was  maliciously  set  on  fire,  and  had  Mr.  W.  not  been 
present,  would  most  likely  have  been  entirely  consumed. 
"  On  the  1st  February  I  again  rode  away,"  he  writes ;  "  I 
found  a  mound  which  formed  an  excellent  pulpit,  and  as  I 
preached  on  the  love  of  God  to  sinful  man,  the  voice  resound- 
ed between  an  avenue  of  trees  most  agreeably,  and  the  peo- 
ple maintained  decency  and  order  to  the  end  of  the  discourse. 
A  number  of  sick  and  diseased  people  were  afterwards 
brought  before  my  tent,  just  as  such  '  impotent  folk'  were 
were  brought  to  the  Saviour,  and  '  He  healed  them  all.'  I 
could  not,  but  I  preached  them  a  faithful  sermon  on  His  love 
and  mercy. 

"  On  the  6th  we  reached  a  large  place,  and  sat  down  to 
discourse  before  the  house  of  the  Zemindar.  Here  was  a  per- 
fect establishment,  such  as  you  find  on  the  estate  of  a  weal- 
thy Hindu.  A  court-yard  with  inclosure,  containing  about 
twelve  hundred  maunds*(96,0001bs.)  of  rice;  a  large  Shiva 


*  A  maund  of  full  weight,  contains  80  lbs. 


A  LARGE  CONGREGATION. 


247 


temple ;  a  Dhurmastan,  or  place  for  dancing,  and  other  cere- 
monies during  idolatrous  festivals ;  a  small  school  in  the  ve- 
randah, where  a  few  boys  were  learning  to  read  the  Shasters, 
write,  etc. ;  and  in  another  corner,  four  sunyasees  (devotees) 
engaged  in  their  morning  worship,  entirely  unclad,  their 
long  matted  hair  hanging  down  over  their  shoulders,  and 
their  persons  besmeared  with  ashes,  looking  more  like  de- 
mons than  human  beings.  Kruckeberg  said  to  one,  '  Your 
appearance  really  shocks  me !'  The  proud  devotee  imme- 
diately retorted,  '  I  have  similar  feelings  with  regard  to  you. 
I  dislike  your  cloths,  and  I  abhor  your  hat !'  We  had  a  long 
conversation  with  the  assembly  here,  but  no  encourage- 
ment. 

"  We  heard  there  were  Europeans  in  this  neighborhood, 
but  only  found  one  young  man  engaged  in  indigo.  I  en- 
tered his  bungalow  and  introduced  myself,  but  he  was  quite 
inhospitable,  and  scarcely  civil.  I  invited  him  to  join  us  at 
divine  service  the  next  day,  Sunday,  which  he  declined.  I 
then  spoke  very  seriously  to  him  on  eternal  things,  but 
could  make  no  impression,  and  was  obliged  to  leave  him. 
On  Sunday  morning  we  prayed  together  at  nine ;  and  at  ten 
went  out  to  proclaim,  the  Gospel.  The  grace  we  entreated 
the  Lord  for,  was  truly  granted  us  to-day.  We  had  large 
congregations  all  day  long,  and  most  pleasant  and  satisfac- 
tory preaching. 

"  In  another  place  I  had  a  beautiful  congregation,  in  a 
large  open  building  supported  by  pillars,  about  fifty  feet  by 
thirty-two.  Not  less  than  four  hundred  individuals  were 
present,  and  a  number  of  women  with  their  children  stood 
outside.  What  a  glorious  harvest  will  it  be,  when  the  in- 
habitants of  these  populous  villages  are  gathered  in.  Several 
times  on  this  tour,  I  have  been  pelted  at  and  insulted,  which 
was  not  the  case  formerly,  but  it  is  a  blessed  privilege  to 
suffer  shame  for  our  Master. 


248  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

"  When  we  reached  our  halting-place  the  following  day,  a 
native  gentleman's  servant  came  out  to  ask,  if  we  would  not 
lodge  at  his  master's.  I  asked  him  to  show  us  the  way, 
and  was  conducted  into  a  large  court-yard  with  a  fine  range 
of  houses  ;  and  several  respectable  natives  sitting  in  a  ver- 
andah, transacting  business.  Two  young  men  of  the  family 
came  forward  and  received  me,  and  I  at  once  turned  the 
subject  of  discourse  to  religion.  They  were  all  very  oblig- 
ing and  polite,  and  endeavored  to  make  us  comfortable.  I 
fixed  on  a  spot  for  my  tent ;  and  in  half  an  hour,  a  servant 
was  in  attendance  with  a  fine  kid,  a  large  fish,  flour,  eggs, 
sweetmeats,  milk,  raisins,  almonds,  oil,  ghee,  wood,  butter, 
rice,  plantains,  and  a  most  earnest  request  to  mention  any 
thing  that  might  be  wanting.  We  had  visitors  all  day  long, 
and  a  great  deal  of  discussion.  Some  of  the  boys  of  the  family 
came  to  us,  to  be  examined  in  English.  One  of  them  was 
a  beautiful  child  of  seven  years,  who  was  fed  on  sweet  milk, 
boiled  down  till  it  became  half  its  original  quantity.  The 
head  Babu  invited  us  to  an  interview  in  his  own  room,  in 
the  evening.  It  was  in  the  first  story  of  the  principal  house. 
The  sides  of  it  were  lined  with  his  friends  and  attendants. 
He  was  a  fine,  tall,  venerable-looking  old  man,  with  a  frank 
and  kind  manner.  He  told  me  he  had  seen  me  twice  at 
Burdwan,  and  asked  me  if  I  did  not  recollect  him  ?  I  re- 
commended him  to  establish  an  English  school,  which  he 
promised  to  do ;  and  I  engaged  to  provide  books  and  a 
teacher.  This  being  settled,  Kruckeberg  begged  me  to  in- 
quire into  his  religious  views,  which  I  did.  He  pointed  to 
a  young  man  present,  who  would,  he  said,  discuss  that  subject 
for  him.  The  conversation  was  interesting,  and  we  parted 
very  thankful  to  have  been  permitted  this  fine  opportunity 
of  delivering  a  faithful  testimony  for  Jesus  among  a  large 
company  of  wealthy  landholders." 

Some  time  after  this  tour,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  attacked 


FAILING  HEALTH. 


249 


by  illness,  and  his  children  likewise.  Many  deaths  of  mis- 
sionaries and  others  are  recorded  in  his  journal,  and  solemn 
lessons  are  repeated  for  his  own  heart.  On  Good-Friday, 
he  preached  from  the  words,  "  It  is  finished,"  and  derived 
unspeakable  comfort  from  them. 

After  Easter,  his  wife  became  dangerously  ill ;  a  babe 
was  born  to  him,  and  died  ;  and  other  trials  followed.  He 
then  made  another  long  tour,  and  on  his  return,  after  preach- 
ing in  the  bazaar,  he  writes :  "  Life  is  become  almost  a 
burden,  and  my  wife's  nerves  are  in  such  a  shattered  state, 
that  I  am  kept  in  a  state  of  perpetual  anxiety,  and  have 
nearly  resolved  to  go  home  next  cold  season.  Her 
health  seems  to  require  it  indispensably,  and  I  daily  entreat 
God  for  His  gracious  direction  at  this  important  juncture. 
My  heart  almost  fails  me  when  I  think  of  leaving  this  mis- 
sion, where  I  have  sown  in  tears  for  upwards  of  ten  years. 
What  engages  my  anxious  attention  particularly,  is  the 
question  of  a  successor  ;  but  '  the  Lord  will  provide.'  " 

In  July  he  proceeded  to  Calcutta,  in  the  hope  that,  by 
personal  consultation,  he  might  effect  some  arrangement 
respecting  a  successor.  He  was  invited  to  meet  the  Com- 
mittee, who  entered  on  the  consideration  of  the  subject  with 
great  kindness  ;  and  it  was  at  length  arranged,  that  in  lack 
of  any  other,  his  old  and  faithful  schoolmaster,  Mr.  D'Ro- 
zario,  should  return  to  Burdwan  as  catechist,  and  assist  Mr. 
Lincke.  He  alludes  to  "  a  serious  conversation  he  held 
with  the  Bishop  and  Archdeacon  respecting  the  new  heresy 
which  was  so  rapidly  spreading ;  and  to  the  masterly  dis- 
course of  his  lordship  on  this  very  subject,  which  was  after- 
wards published."  This  was,  he  remarks,  the  first  solemn 
voice  raised  by  a  Bishop  of  the  Church  of  England  against 
these  semi-Popish  errors.  On  his  return  home,  he  writes  : 
"  I  feel  the  lowering  influence  of  the  climate  now  exceeding- 
ly, and  believe  I  could  not  stop  longer  without  imminent 
11* 


250         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT 

risk.  Thus  the  Lord  is  making  our  way  clear,  and  I  now 
see  it  right  to  prepare  for  our  departure.  Had  an  attack 
of  ilhiess,  and  was  brought  very  low." 

In  October  the  bishop  visited  Burdwan.  "  We  called  on 
him  after  his  arrival,"  remarks  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  and  found 
him  very  tired ;  but  he  spoke  very  kindly  to  us,  and  at 
once  kneeled  down  with  us  to  supplicate  a  blessing  on  his 
visit,  and  each  one  present  offered  up  a  prayer."  His  heart- 
searching  discourses,  and  private  efforts  resembled  those  be- 
fore noticed ;  and  he  expressed  himself  equally  pleased  with 
all  he  saw.  The  Eajah  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  he  afterwards 
visited  him,  and  held  a  long  and  interesting  conversation  with 
him,  which  gratified  the  young  nobleman,  and  left  a  deep  im- 
pression on  his  mind.  Twenty-one  native  Christians  were  con- 
firmed, and  addressed  in  a  very  impressive  manner ;  and  Koi- 
laswas  married  to  Pearce by  the  bishop,  while  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
baptized  at  the  same  time  a  young  Mussulman,  and  some 
more  of  the  orphan  girls  who  manifested  signs  of  true  con- 
version. "  The  very  day  the  bishop  was  leaving,"  he  writes, 
"  brothers  Krauss  and  Lipp  arrived,  and  he  had  us  all  three 
with  him  for  four  hours,  making  the  most  earnest  and 
searching  inquiries  respecting  the  progress  of  the  work  at 
Krishnaghur.  He  prayed  with  us,  and  gave  us  much  valu- 
able advice  before  we  left  him." 

A  change  to  Europe  having  been  now  decided  on, 
he  made  a  farewell  visit  to  Beerbhoom  ;  preached  his  last 
sermons  to  his  English  and  native  flocks,  during  which 
"  many  tears  were  shed  ;"  and  went  to  Calcutta,  "  leaving 
dear  Lincke  overwhelmed  with  sorrow."  He  spent  the  last 
ten  days  with  the  bishop,  according  to  promise,  and  "  found 
him  most  kind,  and  his  chaplain,  Mr.  Pratt,  as  a  dear  friend 
and  brother."  "  He  accompanied  us  to  the  ship,"  he  writes, 
"  and  we  left  India,  with  the  prayers  and  benedictions  of  all 
our  brethren.    As  the  last  faint  outlines  of  the  shore  faded 


THE  VOYAGE. 


251 


from  our  sight,  we  bade  farewell  to  dear  Bengal,  the  land 
where  we  had  labored,  and  prayed,  and  suffered  for  eleven 
years.  It  seemed  like  leaving  an  old  friend.  Thus  will  it 
be,  said  we  to  each  other,  at  the  hour  of  our  departure  from 
this  world ;  the  past  scenes  of  our  life  will  gradually  recede 
from  us,  and  at  last  but  a  faint  outline  will  present  itself ; 
while  the  immortal  spirit  will  hasten  to  the  long-desired 
port  of  eternal  happiness  and  peace,  where  changes,  and 
trials,  and  separations  are  things  unknown. 

There  were  four  missionaries  and  one  chaplain  on  board, 
and  a  large  party  of  passengers.  At  the  request  of  the 
captain,  the  five  ministers  met  in  the  chaplain's  cabin  to  ar- 
range the  best  plan  for  divine  service.  It  was  settled  that 
the  Rev.  H.  Hutton,  the  chaplain,  should  conduct  morning 
worship  in  the  cuddy  daily,  at  which  all  who  were  disposed 
might  attend,  and  on  Sundays  two  public  services  were  to 
be  held,  and  all  the  five  ministers  were  to  preach  and  read 
prayers  in  turn.  This  amicable  arrangement  answered  ad- 
mirably. "  It  is  a  cause  of  gratitude  and  rejoicing,"  writes 
Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  that  there  is  a  union  of  spirit,  and  much 
brotherly  affection  amongst  us,  though  we  four  missiona- 
ries are  all  of  different  churches.  The  passengers  take  an 
interest  in  good  things,  and  the  sailors  behave  well  at  divine 
service.  Every  individual  on  board  can  attend  once  on 
Sunday,  even  the  ship-servants,  through  the  good  manage- 
ment of  Captain  Toller.  Our  little  ones  require  much  at- 
tention, and  Rabee  is  young,  but  behaves  exceedingly  well, 
and  gains  a  good  character  from  all  in  the  ship." 

The  girl  referred  to  was  one  of  the  Burdwan  orphans,  who 
had  expressed  an  earnest  wish  to  accompany  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht's  children  to  England  as  their  nurse,  from  a  real  feel- 
ing of  regard  and  Christian  principle.  She  proved  valuable 
in  her  sphere,  and  during  her  stay  in  England,  she  acquired 
so  much  knowledge  as  to  make  her  a  very  superior  teacher 


252  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

on  her  return  to  Bengal.*  We  will  give  a  short  extract 
from  the  journal : 

"  Dec.  21. — Had  a  profitable  conversation  with  Lacroix, 
on  the  sad  fact  that  many  of  us  missionaries  lose  our  spir- 
ituality, even  while  engaged  in  our  work.  He  lamented  it 
with  me,  and  said  it  was  often  a  cause  of  distress  to  him, 
and  one  principal  reason  that  had  induced  him  to  visit  Eu- 
rope, once  more  to  strengthen ,  his  spiritual  faculties,  and 
warm  his  heart  afresh  by  intercourse  with  established  and 
devoted  Christians  at  home. 

"25^A,  Christmas-day. — Almost  under  the  line,  and  in 
nearly  the  same  latitude  where  I  celebrated  this  blessed 
day,  eleven  years  ago,  on  my  way  to  India.  How  much 
have  I  seen,  and  learned,  and  experienced  during  that  period ; 
yet  even  I,  a  poor  sinner,  can  say,  with  all  my  vileness : 

" '  Preserved  by  faith,  by  power  divine, 

A  miracle  of  grace  I  stand  : 
I  prove  the  strength  of  Jesus  mine, 

Jesus,  upheld  by  Thy  right  hand ! 
Though  in  the  flesh  I  feel  the  thorn, 
I  bless  the  day  that  I  was  born.' " 

On  their  happy  arrival  in  England,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  went 
to  visit  the  son  of  his  beloved  bishop,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Wil- 
son, and  the  venerable  father  of  Mr.  Pratt,  by  both  of 
whom  he  was  received  with  much  affection.  As  he  sat 
with  Mr.  Pratt,  an  old  clergyman  entered  the  room,  who 
came  forward  and  saluted  him  joyfully,  but  was  not  recog- 
nized. "  Do  you  not  know  me  said  he,  "  Tu  non  recor- 
daris  olim  mecum  latine  collocutum  esse."  "Recordor," 
he  replied,  for  this  question  put  him  at  once  in  mind  of  his 
kind  friend,  Mr.  Jowett,  who  had  so  often  helped  him  for- 
ward on  his  first  arrival  in  England  in  1828. 


*  She  was  trained  at  the  Home  and  Colonial  Institution. 


KIND  RECEPTION. 


253 


He  remarks  in  his  journal :  "  From  the  Committee  and 
my  old  friend  Mr.  Coates,  I  met  a  most  friendly  and  affec- 
tionate reception.  Mr.  Venn  took  me  to  his  house,  and 
had  much  conversation  with  me.  I  have  also  rejoiced  in 
God's  goodness,  in  adding  a  new  member  to  my  little  flock, 
a  sweet  little  daughter  ;  and  among  other  interesting  visits 
I  have  made,  has  been  one  to  Mrs.  Admiral  Young,  whose 
son  commanded  the  ship  that  first  took  me  to  India." 

In  June,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  embarked  for  the  Continent. 
We  can  only  give  brief  extracts  from  letters  to  his  wife  of 
what  occurred  to  him  there.  These  follow  in  the  next 
chapter. 


254  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Holland — Dr.  Vanderkemp — Meeting  with  his  Brother — Pious  Prussian 
Nobleman — Death  of  his  Grandmother — Basle — Berne — Gumigal — 
Swiss  Missionary  Meetings — Tour — Missionary  Meeting  at  Stuttgart 
— ^Yisit  to  the  King — Returns  to  England — Barmen  Mission  House — 
Death  of  his  Mother — Obituary  of  two  Catechists — Anecdotes — Re- 
turns to  the  Continent — Lectures  at  Basle  and  other  Places — Inci- 
dents connected  with  them,  and  Remarkable  Blessing  upon  them — 
Returns  to  England — ^Labors  there — Second  Dismissal. 

1842—1844. 

The  extracts  which  follow,  from  letters  to  Mrs.  Weit- 
brecht,  contain  a  few  notices  of  the  incidents  that  occurred 
during  the  summer  of  1842 : 

"  A  few  hours  after  bidding  you  adieu,  I  found  myself  in 
Holland,  and  was  reminded  as  we  passed  up  the  river  that 
led  us  to  Rotterdam,  of  India  and  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges, 
but  the  luxuriant  vegetation,  and  the  forests  of  the  Sunder- 
buns  were  wanting. 

"  Lacroix  is  bitterly  disappointed  at  the  apathy  of  the 
Dutch  Christians  with  regard  to  missions.  It  seems  as  if 
they  have  no  life  and  energy  except  for  merchandise. 

"In  going  up  the  Rhine,  he  showed  me  the  branch  of  the 
river  where  Dr.  Vanderkemp,  who  afterwards  became  such 
a  famous  missionary,  lost  his  wife,  and  was  nearly  drowned 
himself,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  conversion.    I  looked 


REUNIONS. 


255 


with  interest  on  the  hill  where  Caesar  was  encamped  with 
his  legions,  and  from  whence  he  carried  his  troops  to  those 
forests  where  the  valiant  Hermann  destroyed  the  Romans 
and  delivered  Germany. 

"  In  the  evening  we  stopped  at  Emerich,  the  first  Prus- 
sian town  ;  and,  in  taking  a  walk,  I  observed  on  the  pinna- 
cles of  the  Lutheran  church  those  beautiful  words,  engraved 
in  large  characters :  '  Praise  ye  the  Lord.  Sing  unto  the 
Lord  a  new  song,  and  His  praise  in  the  congregation  of 
saints.'  (Ps.  149  :  1.)  I  felt  them  to  be  written  for  me, 
on  my  return  to  my  dear  fatherland,  after  fourteen  years' 
wandering ;  and  I  prayed  for  a  tender  thankful  heart,  and  a 
sense  of  the  Lord's  mercies.  On  reaching  Dusseldorf,  I 
proceeded  by  rail  to  my  uncle's  house,  near  Elbertfeld, 
which  I  reached  so  late  that  the  family  had  retired.  A  maid, 
however,  answered  my  knock,  who  told  me  her  master  was 
from  home.  I  begged  her  to  announce  me  to  her  mistress. 
As  I  was  waiting  in  the  hall,  a  side-door  opened,  and  a 
young  man  stood  before  me,  who  said  :  '  Though  your  uncle 
is  on  a  journey,  your  brother  is  at  home.'  The  sweet  smile 
upon  his  face  at  once  assured  me  that  it  was  Gottlieb  himself 
whom  I  had  left  as  a  lad,  and  we  were  at  once  locked  in  each 
other's  arms.  Oh !  the  delight  of  that  moment  of  reunion  with 
one's  own  brother  ;  and  that  so  unexpectedly  !  I  could  not 
sleep  that  night  for  joy,  and  the  Sunday  was  a  day  of  inde- 
scribable happiness.  We  looked  at  each  other ;  we  talked 
to  each  other  ;  and  we  both  felt  that  we  could  realize  better 
than  before  that  higher  joy  which  we  shall  taste,  when  the 
victory  has  been  won  and  we  meet  in  glory. 

"  My  aunt  was  very  kind,  and  friends  soon  assembled. 
The  hours  passed  rapidly  in  sweet  and  profitable  communion. 
The  pastors  of  the  churches  came,  and  I  spoke  till  late  in 
the  night.  On  the  following  day  I  pursued  my  journey,  and 
met  with  two  excellent  men  in  the  steamer,  whom  I  had 


256  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

long  known  by  name.  These  were  the  Counts  Von  de  Recke 
and  Volmarstein.  One  of  them  has  an  institution  for 
orphans  near  Dusseldorf ;  and  they  are  both  noble  in  charac- 
ter as  well  as  by  birth.  They  read  my  journal  of  the  voyage 
home  with  deep  interest,  and  I  would  have  given  it  to  them 
had  I  not  promised  it  to  Dr.  Barth.*  They  were  brethren 
after  my  own  heart,  full  of  glowing  Christian  affection, 
which  they  expressed  warmly  at  parting. 

"  The  stone  heads  which  I  brought  from  Benares  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  passengers,  and  enabled  me  to  speak  to  many 
on  missions,  f  After  the  Counts  were  gone,  I  had  a  long 
and  interesting  conversation  with  two  Prussian  officers. 
May  God  accompany  it  with  His  blessing  ?  Thus  you  see, 
my  love,  the  Lord  has  prospered  my  journey  hitherto  ;  and 
I  hope  soon  to  hear  the  glad  news,  that  all  my  earthly  trea- 
sures are  doing  well." 

Later  he  writes :  "  We  are  now  going  up  the  Ehine. 
Nothing  can  exceed  the  loveliness  of  the  scenes  by  which 
I  am  surrounded.  The  castles  of  the  German  nobles  of  the 
middle  ages  appear  upon  the  banks  of  the  river,  occupy- 
ing the  most  charming  positions  as  it  respects  scenery." 

The  following  touching  extract  is  from  another  letter : 
"It  was  a  beautiful  summer  evening  when  I  arrived  at 
Waiblingen,  and  the  scene  I  was  permitted  to  witness,  on 
retreading  the  soil  of  my  native  land,  and  entering  again 
upon  my  paternal  dwelling,  after  my  long  absence,  was  one 
that  affected  me  deeply,  and  one  I  shall  never  forget. 
It  was  very  singular  that  I  was  to  make  my  appearance  at 
this  solemn  moment,  and  to  meet  the  beloved  circle  of  my 
numerous  relatives  for  the  first  time,  assembled  around  a 
dying  couch  ;  but  so  the  Lord  ordered  it,  and  we  all  believe 

*  This  journal  was  afterwards  published  in  Grerman.    We  have  omit- 
ted all  its  detaUs  in  this  memoir. 
\  See  page  230. 


DEATH  OF  HIS  GRANDMOTHER. 


257 


that  He  sent  me,  for  my  original  plan  was  to  go  to  Basle 
first. 

"  On  reaching  Waiblingeu,  1  found  my  dear  grandmother, 
nearly  eighty  years  old,  on  her  death-bed,  surrounded  by 
her  children  and  grandchildren.  Her  eye-sight  and  her 
powers  of  utterance  were  gone  ;  but  her  spirit,  now  on  the 
portals  of  eternity,  was  evidently  still  awake  ;  for  when  she 
was  told  that  James  had  come  from  India,  her  breath  quicken- 
ed, and  the  pulsation  of  her  heart  increased.  I  sat  for  three 
hours  beside  the  calm  and  peaceful  form  of  this  dear  and 
tried  follower  of  Christ,  with  my  mother  and  many  others. 
I  read  1  Cor.  15,  and  Ps.  23  ;  and  we  sung  some  beautiful 
hymns,  and  spoke  together  of  the  great  happiness  of  dying 
in  Jesus,  and  the  glory  and  blessedness  which  await  a  faith- 
ful believer  from  the  moment  of  his  departure.  I  then 
prayed  and  commended  the  spirit  of  this  mother  in  Israel 
to  Jesus,  the  Conqueror  of  death ;  and  a  little  while  after- 
wards she  fell  asleep.  From  my  early  youth,  this  venera- 
ble parent  loved  me  tenderly  ;  and  her  letters  to  me,  full  of 
divine  power  and  unction,  have  often  proved  a  precious 
refreshment  to  my  soul.  She  taught  us  to  say,  when 
children : 

'  Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness 
My  beauty  are,  my  glorious  dress.' 

And  what  she  taught  us  was  her  own  daily  practice.  Her 
lamp  burned  brightly,  and  she  was  ready  for  her  Lord's  ap- 
pearing. He  has  conducted  her  safely  into  His  heavenly 
fold,  and  she  now  belongs  to  that  great  congregation  who 
have  washed  their  robes  in  His  blood." 

Another  interesting  incident  is  alluded  to  in  his  journal  ; 
but  the  detail  which  follows  is  given  by  the  friend  referred 
to,  Mr.  Werner. 

"  On  reaching  Gros  Heppach,  I  found  my  beloved  brother 
Werner  in  his  parsonage,  surrounded  by  many  friends. 


258  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

He  gi  seted  me  cordially  with  all  the  warmth  of  his  loving 
spirit,  and  introduced  me  to  his  guests  and  to  his  wife  (a  , 
sister  of  Mrs.  Gobat),  saying :  "  I  bring  you  the  brother 
who  first  taught  me  what  a  true  missionary  was.  In  1828 
I  was  travelling  in  Switzerland  for  my  health,  and  came  to 
Basle  one  day  in  September.  There  I  held  delightful  and 
profitable  intercourse  with  Weitbrecht ;  and  when  about  to 
leave,  a  few  of  us  assembled  together  in  a  small  room,  where 
he  knelt  down,  and  prayed  with  us  all  before  we  parted. 
That  prayer  was  a  blessing  to  me,  and  I  can  never  forget  it. 
It  was  a  new  and  welcome  thing  to  me,  for  I  had  scarcely 
been  in  the  company  of  young  men  who  prayed  together 
before.' " 

The  above  anecdote  reminds  us  of  a  similar  one,  related 
to  Mr.  Weitbrecht  in  India  by  his  brother  missionary,  Mr. 
Blumhardt,  who  told  him  that  to  an  occurrence  of  the  kind 
he  owed  his  conversion ;  and  he  often  remarked,  "  Weit- 
brecht is  my  spiritual  father." 

We  will  again  condense  a  short  narrative  from  letters : 
"  July  8. — I  am  now  quietly  settled  in  the  dear  Mission 
House  at  Basle,  surrounded  by  beloved  brethren  and 
friends,  from  whom  I  meet  the  most  cordial  reception.  The 
old  spirit  of  love  still  reigns  in  the  place.  Mrs.  Buckhardt, 
sister  of  the  great  traveller,  has  invited  us  to  quarters  in  her 
lovely  country-house.  She  is  full  of  Christian  love,  and  will 
welcome  you  warmly.  Dear  Lacroix  addressed  five  breth- 
ren who  were  departing  for  India ;  and  told  them  in  his 
own  powerful  way  what  great  things  are  to  be  accomplished 
by  a  missionary  to  the  Hindus,  by  the  power  of  gentleness, 
and  the  meekness  of  Christ.  He  is  very  much  beloved 
here,  and  has  engaged  to  do  all  in  his  power  in  French  Swit- 
zerland, for  the  Basle  Society.  Mr.  Hoffman  says  he  will 
doubtless  effect  much  in  stirring  up  the  zeal  of  the  people  ; 
for  a  French-speaking  missionary  has  never  been  in  thoso 


MR.  UE  RODT. 


259 


parts  before.  We  sung,  under  a  tree  in  a  garden,  the  same 
hymn  we  had  sung  fifteen  years  before  in  the  same  spot. 
*****  jyfy  holidays  are  turned  into  worlving  days,  but 
they  are  holy  days.  The  people  are  surprised  to  hear  me 
so  at  home  in  German,  after  fifteen  years'  absence.  My 
head  is  already  stronger,  and  I  can  bear  more  fatigue.  I 
can  not  fix  the  time  of  my  return,  for  thousands  are  waiting 
for  me  in  Switzerland  and  Wurtemberg." 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  writes  : 
"t/wZy  20. — An  experienced  physician  at  Basle  advised  me 
to  come  to  this  place,  (Gurnigal,)  where  your  letter  has  been 
forwarded  and  given  me  unexpected  joy.  The  waters  here  are 
highly  beneficial  for  complaints  like  mine  ;  and  the  fine  moun- 
tain air  helps  the  cure.  We  are  six  hours'  walk  from  Berne, 
and  about  four  thousand  feet  above  the  sea.  At  four  a.m. 
we  all  march  to  the  fountain,  and  drink  several  tumblers  of 
water,  waiting  ten  minutes  between  each.  It  seems  to  invi- 
gorate and  renew  the  whole  constitution,  body  and  mind, 
though  it  makes  one  sleepy  for  the  time  being,  and  I  can  not 
prepare  missionary  addresses  and  sermons  as  I  had  intended. 
The  prospect  towards  the  snow  mountains  is  indescribably 
lovely.  I  inclose  you  some  Alpine  flowers  which  I  plucked 
from  the  heights,  under  a  panting  desire  that  you  could  ac- 
company me  in  these  interesting  rambles. 

"  I  spent  two  days  at  Berne,  on  my  way  here,  in  delight- 
ful society  among  Mr.  De  Rodt's  relations.  His  aged  father 
is  a  venerable  nobleman ;  and  when  I  saw  the  riches  and 
comfort  and  high  standing  of  the  family,  I  felt  surprised  at 
the  recollection  of  our  dear,  humble,  unassuming  brother, 
who  made  so  light  of  privations  and  annoyances,  that  would 
have  worn  out  the  patience  of  many.  It  raised  him  still 
higher  in  my  estimation  than  he  was  before.  I  held  a  mis- 
sionary meeting  in  a  village.  We  began  it  in  a  hall,  but  the 
press  of  the  people  was  so  great,  that  we  had  to  leave  it  and 


260  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

we  stood  in  the  court-yard.  The  assembly  listened  in 
breathless  silence  for  upwards  of  an  hour,  and  the  power  of 
the  Spirit  was  felt.  A  niece  of  the  pastor's,  a  very  interest- 
ing girl,  was  brought  home  to  the  Lord,  and  said  '  that  day 
was  a  new  period  in  her  life.'  I  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve, from  what  I  have  heard  since,  that  it  was  a  case  of 
genuine  conversion ;  and,  blessed  be  God !  it  is  not  the  only 
one  which  has  taken  place.  When  I  had  done,  the  pastor 
rose  and  said  :  '  Let  us,  my  friends,  show  the  deep  interest 
we  feel  practically.'  Two  young  Swiss  ladies  then  went 
round  with  plates,  and  collected  a  hundred  Swiss  francs  for 
our  orphan  school.  Is  not  this  encouraging  ?  I  must  now 
tell  you  of  another  missionary  meeting  which  I  held  among 
the  bathing  guests.  All  attended,  even  the  hotel-keeper  and 
his  servants.  There  is  quite  an  excitement  and  sensation 
among  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  visitors,  on  missionary 
subjects.  Unite  with  me  in  praising  the  Lord,  for  thus 
making  use  of  a  poor  worn-out  laborer  to  stir  up  people  at 
home  ;  even  the  guests  in  a  bathing-place  on  the  mountains 
of  Switzerland." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  became  much  restored  in  health  at  Gumi- 
gal ;  and  on  leaving  it,  he  took  an  extensive  tour,  with 
knapsack  on  his  back,  in  the  German  fashion ;  his  interest- 
ing description  of  which  we  will  omit.  Records  such  as  the 
following  occur :  "  On  Sunday  I  performed  divine  service 
in  the  Grimsel  Hospiz.  The  keeper  of  it  is  a  pious  man  ; 
and  one  of  the  guides  said  he  had  never  heard  such  a  sermon 
before.  I  expounded  part  of  the  55th  of  Isaiah,  applying 
the  subject  by  allusions  to  the  beautiful  fountains,  valleys, 
and  hills  in  which  Switzerland  abounds.  Another  Sunday  I 
held  a  missionary  meeting  in  a  church  filled  with  Swiss  pea- 
sants, many  of  them  pious  people." 

These  days  of  enjoyment  wore  permitted  in  mercy,  and  pre- 
pared and  strengthened  him  for  a  severe  trial  which  he  men- 


SAD  TIDINGS. 


261 


tions  in  the  next  paragraph.  Thus  did  light  and  shade  vary  his 
experience ;  and  both  the  one  and  the  other  helped  to  promote 
his  sanctification  ;  so  that,  to  adopt  a  simile  suggested  by  his 
allusions  to  the  scenery  of  Switzerland,  he  was  daily  learn- 
ing more  perfectly  to  reflect  the  image  of  the  Saviour  in  his 
heart,  just  as  the  quiet  sky  is  reflected  in  all  its  softness  and 
depth,  from  the  steady  surface  of  one  of  Switzerland's  beau- 
tiful lakes. 

"  Upon  my  return  to  Berne,  after  I  had  completed  my 
tour,  I  was  met  by  sad  tidings  ;  my  babe  has  been  removed 
by  death,  and  my  wife's  health  has  entirely  given  way.  The 
news  fell  like  a  weight  on  my  heart.  The  dear  sweet 
blossom  fell  so  early,  and  we  have  now  four  children  in 
heaven.  What  shall  I  say  ?  It  is  the  Lord's  doing.  May 
His  name  be  glorified  in  us !  Oh  !  could  I  have  known 
what  my  dear  wife  was  passing  through  in  my  absence,  as  I 
made  that  delightful  journey.  But  it  was  hidden  from  me, 
and  no  doubt  wisely,  and  she  is  content  to  have  borne  the 
heavy  burden  alone;  but  it  has  quite  crushed  her  ;  yet  the 
Lord  will  lift  her  up  again.  I  hear  she  is  on  her  journey  to 
me.  May  He  conduct  her  safely  to  my  arms !  After  I 
had  a  little  recovered  this  stunning  news,  I  had  to  go  and 
speak  at  a  large  meeting  at  Berne,  and  to  follow  Professor 
Tholuck.    The  Lord  wonderfully  helped  me." 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Coates  of  this  date,  he  remarks :  "  I  am 
delighted  to  perceive,  that  our  Christian  friends  on  the  con- 
tinent seem  prepared  to  take  an  increased  interest  in  mis- 
sions ;  and  as  details  are  here  far  less  known  than  in  England, 
missionaries  have  an  open  door  for  extensive  usefulness.  I 
have  attended  and  spoken  at  all  the  great  anniversary  meet- 
ings at  Berne,  Zurich,  Lausanne,  etc.,  as  well  as  held  nume- 
rous smaller  ones  myself.  To-morrow,  we  are  to  have  a 
conference  at  Stuttgart,  where  one  hundred  and  fifl;y  clergy- 
men are  expected  to  be  present ;  and  I  hope  to  have  an 


262  MEMOIR  OF  RET.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

opportunity  of  recommending  our  work  to  their  particular 
attention.  The  four  principal  clergymen  of  the  city  have 
lately  applied  to  government,  for  permission  to  hold  a  public 
anniversary  at  this  capital ;  and  as  the  King  appears  well 
inclined  to  it,  there  is  scarcely  a  doubt  it  will  be  granted.  I 
intend  to  remain  here  during  the  winter ;  so  I  hope  to  be 
present  at  this  first  great  meeting,  which  is  expected  to  be 
attended  by  thousands.  I  have  been  advised  to  visit  the 
King,  and  purpose  doing  so,  hoping  that  he  may,  from  the 
interview,  become  better  acquainted  with  the  character  of 
our  work." 

The  meeting  alluded  to  in  the  above  letter  was  duly  held, 
and  answered  the  highest  expectations  of  numerous  friends. 
It  is  singular  that  a  country  which  had  furnished  more  mis- 
sionaries, in  proportion,  than  any  other  in  Europe,  should 
never  have  had  a  public  meeting  held  in  its  capital  city  till 
1842.  How  does  it  verify  our  Saviour's  words,  "  The  king- 
dom of  God  cometh  not  with  observation !" 

We  find  in  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  journal,  a  record  of  the  con- 
versation which  took  place  between  his  sovereign  and  him- 
self, on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  he  alludes  to  above,  as 
intending  to  make : 

"  Jan.  3. — Having  signified  to  the  Secretary  of  State  my 
desire  for  an  audience,  I  received  a  letter,  with  an  invitation 
to  appear  before  the  King  at  twelve  o'clock.  I  went  to  the 
Palace  at  the  appointed  time,  and  was  very  graciously  re 
ceived.  His  Majesty  put  numerous  questions  to  me  respect 
ing  our  work.  He  inquired  if  the  East-India  Company's 
government  did  any  thing  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel.  1 
replied  that  they  had  schools,  but  forbade  the  introduction 
of  the  Scriptures  into  them.  He  was  astonished  above 
measure,  and  said,  '  How  can  a  government  be  blessed,  that 
does  not  make  religion  the  basis  of  the  state  V  I  then  gave 
him  a  short  sketch  of  Brahmunism ;  and  showed  him  the 


CONVERSATION   WITH   THE  KING. 


263 


similarity  that  exists  between  it  and  the  German  heresies 
of  the  present  day.  I  spoke  warmly  on  this  subject,  and  he 
smiled  and  said :  '  You  are  correct.'  He  then  made  some 
inquiries  about  the  present  state  of  the  English  Church,  and 
the  universities ;  and  when  I  had  answered  him,  he  said : 
'  Then  they  have  excrescences  as  well  as  we,  and  perhaps  it 
is  better  with  us  than  with  them.  Such  things  can  only  be 
removed  by  degrees.' 

"  He  then  rejoined :  '  You  will  have  perceived  many  im- 
provements on  your  return  to  Wurtemberg,  and  you  must 
feel  very  happy,  after  your  long  absence,  to  see  your  native 
land  once  more  V 

" '  Yes,  your  Majesty,'  I  replied,  '  I  had  an  overpowering 
feeling,  on  the  first  glimpse  I  got  of  my  native  town.' 

" '  I  can  enter  into  the  feeling,'  he  rejoined,  '  for  I  have 
been  in  many  parts  of  Europe  ;  but  1  have  nowhere  found  a 
people  of  the  same  religious  constitution  of  mind  as  my  sub- 
jects. They  are  manly  and  brave,  but  quiet  and  contented ; 
full  of  cordiality  and  affection,  and  thoroughly  sincere.  An 
honest  man  is  at  home  among  us.' 

" '  It  is  just  the  impression  I  have  received  afresh  on  my 
return,  your  Majesty.  There  is  but  one  Wurtemberg  in  the 
world ;  but  I  am  a  missionary,  and  I  must  leave  this  dear 
land  again  and  return  to  India.  Where  the  welfare  of  im- 
mortal souls  is  concerned,  all  other  considerations  step  into 
the  background ;  for  this  we  can  willingly  make  every 
sacrifice.' 

"  '  Then  you  return  again,'  he  replied.  '  Are  you  willing 
to  remain  there  V  '  Yes,  your  Majesty ;  if  God  give  me 
health,  I  hope  to  spend  the  rest  of  my  life  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Hindus.' 

"  At  these  words  the  King  manifested  much  emotion,  and 
rejoined  :  '  Have  you  a  family  V  '  I  have  an  English  wife 
and  two  children.'    '  Do  you  take  the  children  with  you  to 


264         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

India  V  '  No  ;  the  climate  of  Bengal  does  not  allow  us  to 
bring  up  our  children  there.' 

" '  This  is  a  heavy  trial,  a  severe  sacrifice.  The  life  of  a 
missionary  must  be  one  of  many  sacrifices  and  social  de- 
privations ;  and  to  have  to  give  up  one's  children  too  is  hard 
indeed.  How  many  Wurtemberger  missionaries  have  you 
in  India  V 

"  '  I  can  not  exactly  say, — perhaps  thirty.  There  are  more 
in  other  parts  of  the  world.  The  proportion  of  German 
missionaries  is  larger  than  that  of  English ;  and  though  the 
government  of  India  do  nothing  officially  for  the  spread  of 
the  Gospel,  their  officers,  both  civil  and  military,  aid  the 
missionaries  most  liberally  as  private  individuals.  I  have 
received  not  less  than  3000  florins  annually  from  English 
people,  for  the  support  of  my  schools  and  other  objects,  in 
my  mission  station.' 

"  The  King  then  went  on  to  ask  me  many  questions  about 
the  Roman  Catholics  and  their  missions ;  I  gave  him  very 
full  replies,  and  explained  to  him  their  plans  and  modes  of 
procedure,  and  related  one  or  two  amusing  anecdotes  of 
their  contrivances,  at  which  he  laughed  heartily,  remarking, 
'  This  is  quite  in  character  with  the  Romish  Church.' 

"  At  parting,  he  said  :  '  I  hope  you  will  remain  a  while 
longer  in  your  native  land.'  I  then  thanked  him  for  a  gold 
watch  and  chain,  which  had  been  presented  to  me  by  the 
Secretary  of  State,  and  withdrew,  blessing  God  for  the  help 
He  vouchsafed  to  me.  The  King  evidently  takes  much  in- 
terest in  our  work,  and  seeks  the  true  welfare  of  his  subjects. 
The  present  he  gave  me  may  be  regarded  as  a  proof  of  this, 
as  well  as  his  remarks,  one  of  which  was,  that  '  no  govern- 
ment could  be  successful,  unless  it  made  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  its  subjects  an  object  of  its  chief  attention.'  I  feel  the 
result  of  this  interview  to  be  cheering." 

Many  invitations  firom  the  nobility  in  Stuttgart  followed 


THE  MISSIONARY  HONORED. 


265 


the  visit  to  the  King ;  and,  for  several  days,  missionary 
topics  formed  a  prominent  subject  of  conversion,  in  circles 
that  had  not  been  accustomed  to  broach  them.  Thus  the 
humble  missionary,  like  his  apostolic  predecessor,  passed 
"  through  honor"  as  well  as  "  dishonor."  The  tenor  of  his 
daily  engagements  and  labors,  however,  remained  the  same ; 
and  his  journal  refers  to  continual  meetings,  public  and  pri- 
vate, far  and  near.  Sometimes  he  was  called  upon  to  interest 
large  circles  of  ladies  of  high  birth  and  cultivated  and  refined 
minds  ;  and  then  again  we  find  him  in  an  assembly  of  peas- 
ants, and  equally  at  home  with  all.  At  one  private  meeting 
in  his  native  town,  above  three  hundred  persons  were  present, 
and  then  the  half  who  collected  having  been  unable  to  get  in, 
entreated  him  to  hold  another  the  following  day  for  them. 
In  the  parish  church,  too,  he  was  invited  to  preach,  and  it 
was  crowded  to  overflowing,  though  capable  of  accommodat- 
ing three  thousand  persons,  and  the  town  only  contains  four 
thousand.  "  When  I  saw  the  masses  before  me,"  he  writes, 
"  I  felt  quite  overcome,  and  supplicated  the  Lord  for  grace 
and  strength,  and  He  heard  me.  My  He  bless  his  own 
Word  to  the  dear  Schorndorfers !  At  my  brother  Frede- 
rick's church  in  Welsheim  it  was  equally  encouraging,  and 
the  amount  of  the  collection  doubled  his  expectations.  To 
God  be  all  the  glory  !" 

After  a  succession  of  engagements  and  labors  of  a  most 
animating  description,  and  much  delightful  intercourse  with 
his  own  relatives,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  prepared  to  return  to 
England  early  in  the  spring  of  1843.  Before  leaving  Wur- 
temberg  he  writes :  "  I  took  leave  of  my  dear  mother  (who 
had  been  ill  all  the  winter)  for  the  last  time.  Her  sufferings 
are  excruciating,  and  she  is  fast  hastening  home.  I  never 
saw  any  one  bear  racking  pain  with  such  cheerfulness  as  this 
dear  woman.  To  sit  by  her  and  talk  with  her,  you  would 
suppose  her  to  be  quite  easy  and  comfortable.  She  is  a 
12 


266  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

daily  wonder  to  the  physician,  and  to  us  all.  She  can  indeed 
say :  '  I  glory  in  infirmity,  that  Christ's  own  power  may  rest 
on  me.' 

"On  our  journey  towards  England,"  he  continues,  "I 
visited  the  Barmen  Mission  House,  near  Elberfeld.  It  was 
a  gratifying  occasion,  for  there  was  a  large  assembly  of 
ministers  there.  I  was  asked  some  questions  respecting 
India,  where  they  were  thinking  of  establishing  a  mission. 
I  strongly  dissuaded  them  from  doing  it,  as  their  whole  sys- 
tem of  education  and  preparation  would  have  to  be  remo- 
delled if  they  changed  the  destination  of  their  men.  I  there- 
fore advised  them  to  cultivate  their  African  field  more 
thoroughly  and  efficiently.  I  wish  indeed  all  missionary 
societies  would  be  content  to  occupy  fewer  spheres,  and  do  it 
more  perfectly.  It  would  not  hinder,  but  facilitate  the  con- 
version of  the  heathen  world  ;  but  the  directors  of  missions 
in  Europe  do  not  see  this,  and  do  not  like  to  believe  it ; 
though  all  experienced  missionaries,  who  have  studied  the 
subject,  will  tell  them  the  same.  On  Sunday  we  attended 
Krummacher's  church,  and  heard  him  preach  an  eloquent 
sermon  from  Nathan's  words  to  David,  '  Thou  art  the  man.' 
On  the  27th  of  February  we  again  pressed  our  dear  children 
to  our  bosoms  with  heart-felt  joy,  after  nine  months'  ab- 
sence." 

The  following  letter  from  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta  was  put 
into  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  hands,  on  his  arrival  in  England : 

"  Near  Monghir,  Nov.  6,  1843. 
"I  can  not  allow  your  letter,  my  dear  friend,  to  remain 
without  a  reply.  I  can  assure  you  I  often  think  of  Mrs. 
Weitbrecht  and  yourself,  and  earnestly  do  I  hope  that  it 
may  please  God  to  restore  you  to  India  and  your  work,  in 
full  health  and  strength.  Oh  !  what  a  blessed  service  is  our 
Divine  Master's  !  It  is  worth  living  for,  and  I  am  sure  it  is 
worth  dying  for  ;  and  I  trust  a  constant  succession  of  true 


LETTER  FROM  THE  BISHOP  OF  CALCUTTA.  267 


and  faithful  men  may  be  raised  up,  to  erect  the  standard  of 
the  cross  in  heathen  India.  In  hoc  signo  vinces,  may  we 
truly  say.  '  Let  us  be  valiant  for  the  truth  upon  the  earth,' 
and  glory  only  in  the  cross  and  blood-shedding  of  the  one 
sacrifice,  offered  by  the  one  Mediator  between  God  and  man, 
the  Man  Christ  Jesus  ;  and  let  us  seek  to  be  more  and  more 
governed  and  led  by  His  Holy  Spirit.  Let  us  observe  a 
wise  and  holy  moderation  as  to  outward  things,  my  dear 
brother,  with  a  warm  and  simple  love  to  Christ  and  the  doc- 
trines of  grace.  This  is  the  missionary  spirit.  It  was  pleas- 
ing to  me  to  hear  once  more  of  St.  Edmund  Hall,  Oxford, 
where  I  entered  May  1,  1798,  and  where  my  name  is  still 
on  the  books. 

"  My  best  love  in  Christ  J esus  to  your  dear  wife  and 
family,  and  all  friends.  I  beg  the  benefit  of  your  prayers, 
and  am  yours  most  affectionately,  D.  Calcutta." 

During  the  little  intervals  of  leisure  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had 
enjoyed  in  Germany,  he  had  planned  and  prepared  a  set  of 
lectures  on  India,  which  he  intended  delivering  before  he 
left ;  but  as  the  season  was  somewhat  advanced  for  such  an 
undertaking,  he  was  induced  to  delay  it,  and  spend  some 
months  in  England ;  and  return  to  Germany  for  that  pur- 
pose the  following  autumn.  His  friend  Mr.  Lacroix  had 
delivered  lectures  on  India  in  Switzerland  in  Erench,  which 
had  been  much  blessed.  This  led  him  to  the  adoption  of  a 
similar  plan. 

On  hearing  of  his  mother's  death  in  April,  he  thus  wrote 
to  his  family  :  "  The  intelligence  of  our  dear  mother's 
blissful  end  has  reached  me.  She  is  at  home  now  with  her 
Lord,  afler  a  burdensome  pilgrimage,  and  a  seed-time  wa- 
tered by  abundant  tears.  I  feel  sad,  but  can  not  mourn,  for 
I  know  that  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord  from 
henceforth.' 


268  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAME8  WEITBRECHT. 

"  What  a  change  for  her  to  pass  from  a  painful,  weari- 
some sick-bed  to  the  joy  and  glory  of  heaven  !  She  fought 
the  good  fight  valiantly,  and  kept  the  faith,  and  honored  the 
Lord  by  her  suffering  patience,  as  she  had  before  done  by 
her  active  obedience.  Her  bright  cheerfulness  excited  my 
constant  astonishment.  Only  the  power  of  God's  grace 
could  have  produced  it.  It  is  another  proof  to  us,  how  faith 
can  be  made  to  triumph  over  all  difficulties,  pains,  trials, 
and  even  death  itself ;  and  it  teaches  us  that  our  religion  is 
a  reality,  and  that  the  victory  is  granted  us  through  faith. 
Our  dear  parent  was  not  tempted  above  that  she  was  able 
to  bear ;  and  though  I  believe  she  suffered  more  than  we 
any  of  us  know,  she  was  upheld ;  our  prayers  for  her  were 
all  heard,  and  as  she  has  experienced  so  shall  we.  Alas ! 
nine  months  ago,  our  mother  and  our  grandmother  still 
lived.  Now,  these  corner-stones  are  removed ;  but  Jesus 
says,  '  Abide  with  me ;  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless ;  I 
will  come  to  you,'  and  so  He  will.  *  Hold  thou  us  up,  and 
we  shall  be  safe.'  " 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence  with 
Mr.  Lincke,  (as  long  as  he  remained  at  Burdwan,)  and 
with  his  native  flock  during  his  absence  from  India.  They 
suffered  much  from  sickness,  and  other  causes.  The  letter 
which  follows  from  Mr.  Lincke  describes  some  of  their  sad 
trials : 

"  In  November,  just  a  year  after  you  left  us,  it  pleased 
God  to  remove  both  our  own  dear  children  from  us.  In 
one  week  they  were  well — ill — and  buried.  While  smart- 
ing under  this  sore  affliction,  the  small-pox  broke  out,  in 
consequence  of  the  carelessness  or  intentional  wickedness 
of  a  native  doctor,  who  professed  to  vaccinate,  but  actually 
inoculated  the  children  in  the  schools.  Fifty  persons  were 
down  at  once,  of  whom  nine  died.  And  what  will  you  say 
when  I  tell  you,  that  our  dear  catechists,  Peter  and  Shun- 


SKETCH  OF  PETER  AND  SHUNDURE. 


269 


dure,  are  among  the  departed  !  I  have  drawn  up  a  little 
sketch  of  these  excellent  men,  by  which  you  will  see  how 
faithful  they  were  to  the  last." 

We  compress  a  few  particulars  from  Mr.  Lincke's 
sketch : 

"  Peter  was  baptized  in  1821,  and  Shundure  in  1824,  and 
both  became  laborers  in  this  mission  from  the  period  of 
their  introduction  into  the  Church  of  Christ.  Shundure  was 
a  strong  man,  and  capable  of  much  exertion,  and  was  always 
ready  for  active  duty.  He  had  a  peculiar  talent  for  preach- 
ing, and  *  spoke  the  Word  of  God  with  boldness and  he 
usually  succeeded  in  riveting  the  attention  of  his  hearers, 
when  his  aim  was  to  alarm  their  consciences  and  touch  their 
hearts.  Peter  was  not  so  gifted  as  a  public  speaker,  but 
his  Christian  character  was  beautiful,  and  we  may  truly  say, 
he  was  a  '  living  epistle  of  Christ,  known  and  read  of  all 
men.'  He  was  humble,  meek,  and  retiring ;  the  child  of 
simplicity  and  faith.  His  own  deep  experience  enabled 
him  to  speak  with  much  pious  unction,  and  to  edify  the  at- 
tentive listener.  Thousands  of  their  countrymen  heard, 
from  the  lips  of  both  of  them,  the  way  of  salvation  through 
the  only  Saviour,  in  the  most  plain  and  emphatic  manner. 

"  By  his  uniform  consistency,  Peter  had  obtained  a  good 
report,  '  both  of  the  brethren  and  of  strangers and  Hindus 
and  Mussulmans  would  often  tell  us,  '  If  all  your  Christians 
were  like  Peter,  we  would  adopt  your  faith.'  In  his  little 
transactions  with  the  world,  his  word  was  as  good  as  his 
bond.  Any  tradesman  would  trust  his  promise,  in  cases 
where  they  would  have  required  a  surety  from  one  of  their 
own  creed,  and  even  from  their  personal  friends.  During 
the  last  year  I  perceived  an  increased  earnestness,  serious- 
ness, and  zeal  about  them  both,  and  remarked  it  to  my  wife 
with  joy,  when  returning  from  listening  to  them  in  the 
bazaar.    They  bore  the  bitter  taunts  and  cavils  of  th^ 


270         MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


heathen  adversaries  with  such  meekness  as  to  astonish 
me. 

"  During  the  prevalence  of  the  small-pox,  they  were  oc- 
cupied night  and  day  in  attending  on  the  sick,  for  we  could 
get  no  nurses ;  and  there  was  hardly  a  house  in  which  there 
were  not  two,  three,  or  more  ill. 

"  Our  distress  was  very  great,  and  both  these  good  men 
were  quite  worn  out,  before  they  were  themselves  attacked 
with  the  fatal  malady.  Shundure  sunk  first,  just  as  his  wife 
and  children  were  recovering;  and  after  two  days  of  intense 
suffering,  he  died.  Peter  was  also  permitted  to  attend  on 
six  of  his  children,  two  of  whom  died  before  himself  One 
of  these  was  the  flower  of  our  little  flock  of  Christ's  lambs, 
and  he  gave  repeated  and  most  pleasing  evidence  of  his  fit- 
ness for  the  Father's  house.  On  seeing  his  mother  weep- 
ing, he  said,  '  Dear  mother,  care  for  the  others,  not  for  me;' 
and  he  pointed  to  his  brothers  and  sisters,  the  youngest  of 
whom  was  but  a  few  days  old.  Another  day  he  again  ob- 
served his  relatives  shedding  tears  of  pity  and  tenderness, 
and  he  said,  Why  do  you  weep  ? — would  any  of  you  give 
your  lives  for  my  recovery  ?  I  am  going  to  Him  who  died 
for  me.'  His  father  followed  him  to  glory  twelve  days 
after,  exhorting  his  brother-catechists,  with  his  dying  breath, 
to  devote  themselves  more  entirely  to  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
and  to  '  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,'  in  the  bless- 
ed employment  of  '  preaching  Christ  crucified,'  in  which  he 
had  so  delighted  to  be  engaged  during  his  whole  Christian 
course.  Both  these  good  men  spoke  frequently  of  their 
own  sinfulness  and  utter  unworthiness  in  the  sight  of  God ; 
and  besought  their  brethren  to  forgive  them  any  offense 
they  might  have  committed  against  them,  and  to  entreat  for 
them  *  an  abundant  entrance  into  the  everlasting  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,'  which  He  graciously  granted 


ENGAGEMENTS  ON  HIS  ARRIVAL  IN  ENGLAND.  271 

them  :  and  we  can  not  doubt  that  they  are  '  absent  from  the 
body  and  present  with  the  Lord.'  " 

Mr.  Lineke  adds :  "  Onno  was  also  taken,  after  many  days 
of  dreadful  suffering,  (one  of  the  first  ripe  fruits  of  the  orphan 
school.)  We  have  no  doubt  she  too  is  with  the  Saviour 
she  loved  and  honored  by  her  truly  Christian  life.  She  was 
remarked  by  all  our  women,  for  her  great  affection  to  her 
husband ;  they  always  walked  together  to  and  from  church, 
an  innovation  on  Hindu  custom  none  of  them  have  the 
courage  to  follow.  In  a  word,  nearly  all  our  best  people 
are  no  more !" 

It  is  impossible  to  attempt  any  abstract  of  the  engage- 
ments of  the  period  that  followed  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  arrival 
in  England.  The  journal  is  crowded  with  records  of  meet- 
ings and  sermons  at  Bristol,  Bath,  Cheltenham,  York,  and 
many  other  places.  His  heart  was  warmed,  and  he  adopted 
the  language  of  Mary :  "  My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord, 
and  my  spirit  rejoices  in  God  my  Saviour."  He  also  spoke 
at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  in 
Exeter  Hall ;  but  though  accustomed  to  address  assemblies 
fully  as  large  in  Germany,  he  shrunk  much  from  a  London 
meeting,  and  only  occupied  half  an  hour.  On  his  return 
home,  he  was  followed  by  a  kind  note  from  Mr.  Yorke,  who 
began  it  by  saying  :  "  Your  speech  had  one  decided  fault 
in  it."  "  I  told  you,"  said  he,  turning  to  Mr.  Leupolt,  who 
sat  by  him,  "  that  I  should  fail  this  morning."  "  Wait  a 
little,  my  dear  brother,"  rejoined  Mr.  L.,  "  and  see  what 
follows ;"  and  then  he  read,  "  It  was  too  short  by  one 
half"  This  encouraged  him,  and  he  was  never  afraid,  after 
that,  even  of  five  thousand  people,  either  in  London  or  else- 
where. He  actually  addressed  that  number  in  a  meeting 
at  Liverpool. 

The  more  he  became  known,  the  more  did  invitations 
pour  in  upon  him  from  all  sides;  and  "I  found,"  he  remarks, 


272 


MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


*'  that  English  Christians  have  hearts  as  full  of  cordial  love 
as  my  own  dear  countrymen,  though  they  show  it  less  in 
manner.  He  wrote  many  letters  to  friends  in  different 
quarters,  especially  to  young  people  whom  he  met  with  on 
his  journeys.  He  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  trying  to 
win  their  hearts  to  Jesus,  and  he  would  sit  down  in  moments 
that  intervened  between  his  public  engagements,  and  address 
them  in  his  own  persuasive  way,  on  the  subjects  of  highest 
interest  and  importance.  Space  only  permits  the  insertion 
of  one  short  specimen  of  this  kind  of  correspondence,  which 
was  a  blessing  in  many  instances  : 

To  B.  a  Bull. 

''Juli/24,  1843. 
"  My  Dear  Young  Friend  :  I  was  very  much  pleased  to 
hear  from  your  dear  aunt,  that  you  remember  my  short 
visit,  and  the  conversation  we  had  together.  I  always  feel 
grieved  when  I  have  to  say  farewell  to  dear  friends  whom  I 
love,  and  who  love  me.  There  is  a  place  where  friends  will 
never  part.  You  know  where  that  place  is,  my  dear  young 
friend.  Let  us  prepare  for  it,  because  we  may  soon  be 
called  away  from  this  world.  I  hope  you  love  the  Saviour, 
who  redeemed  you  with  His  precious  blood.  When  I  was 
a  boy  of  your  age  I  used  often  to  pray  to  Him,  and  on  the 
day  of  my  confirmation,  which  was  a  blessed  day  to  my  soul, 
1  deeply  felt  that  I  must  give  Him  my  whole  heart.  I  lost 
those  impressions  afterwards,  and  became  careless,  at  least 
for  a  time.  Let  me  advise  you  to  watch  and  pray.  It  is  a 
most  happy  thing  to  become  a  real  child  of  God  in  youth. 
'  Those  who  seek  me  early  shall  find  me,'  says  the  Lord. 
As  you  seem  to  feel  a  great  interest  in  missionaries  and 
their  work,  perhaps  your  Saviour  may  hereafter  choose  you 
to  be  a  laborer  in  His  vineyard  among  the  heathen.  How 
happy  I  should  be  to  hear  you  were  preparing  to  become  a 


IMPRESSIONS. 


273 


missionary,  and  how  delighted  if  my  dear  young  friend, 
Robert  Bull,  were  coming  to  Bengal,  to  Burdwan,  to  help 
me  in  this  blessed  work  ! 

"  If  I  come  into  the  neighborhood  of  Halifax,  I  shall  not 
forget  you ;  but  as  this  is  not  certain,  you  must  accept  these 
few  lines  as  a  kind  of  visit  from  your  friend,  the  missionary, 
who  loves  you  and  desires  your  happmess.  May  the  Lord 
bless  you  and  your  dear  brother  and  sister  ! 

"  Affectionately  yours,  J.  James  Weitbrecht." 

On  the  20th  of  June,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  rejoiced  in  the  birth 
of  a  son,  whom  he  named  after  his  favorite,  Henry  Martyn ; 
and  on  August  3,  he  writes :  "  We  consecrated  this  dear 
babe  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  May  he  become  His  fol- 
lower, and,  if  it  be  His  good  pleasure,  a  laborer  in  the  Gospel 
among  the  heathen,  resemblmg  the  great  and  good  man 
whose  name  he  bears  !" 

A  very  short  anecdote  of  this  period  may  be  introduced, 
illustrative  of  the  impressions  he  produced  in  domestic  life. 
A  servant  in  his  family  one  day  inquired  if  any  likeness  of 
him  were  procurable ;  "  for,"  said  she,  "  I  have  enjoyed  a 
little  heaven  on  earth  while  in  this  house ;  and  although  I 
am  a  poor  woman,  I  would  gladly  give  half  a-crown  to  have 
a  remembrance  of  him  by  me  when  he  is  gone." 

The  kind  friend  in  whose  care  his  children  had  remained 
during  his  first  absence  in  Germany,  Miss  Ramsay,  thus 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Weitbrecht : 

"As  a  family,  you  know  how  we  valued  our  seasons  of 
intercourse  with  your  dear  husband ;  and  the  remembrance 
of  his  visits  has  been  fondly  cherished.  Of  one,  in  particular, 
I  have  never  lost  the  impression.  He  had  walked  once  to 
our  house  before  breakfast,  and  conducted  our  family  wor- 
ship, choosing  for  his  subject  the  thirty-fourth  Psalm. 
When  he  came,  in  the  course  of  exposition,  to  the  11th 
12* 


274  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


verse,  he  seemed  to  pour  out  the  fullness  of  a  father's  heart, 
while  inviting  his  dear  children  '  to  hearken  unto  him,  while 
he  taught  them  the  fear  of  the  Lord.'  The  whole  exposition 
was  sweet  and  touching,  and  when  walking  in  the  garden 
after,  I  referred  to  it,  he  told  me,  that  once  in  India  he 
expounded  that  Psalm,  and  that  the  Lord  had  blessed  it  to 
the  conversion  of  more  than  one  who  heard  it." 

Late  in  the  autumn  he  returned  to  the  Continent,  to  deliver 
his  lectures  on  India,  and  to  hold  meetings. 

Any  description  of  the  remarkable  blessing  that  accom- 
panied his  labors  during  this  winter  must  fall  far  short  of  the 
reality,  but  the  extracts  from  letters  that  follow  are  suffi- 
ciently striking : 

"  Last  Saturday  evening  I  delivered  my  closing  lecture  at 
Basle.  The  course  consisted  of  seven.  The  first  was  on  the 
country  and  people  of  India.  The  second,  on  their  mythology 
and  literature.  The  third,  on  their  idolatry.  The  fourth,  on 
the  preaching  of  missionaries.  The  fifth,  on  our  schools. 
The  sixth,  on  the  obstacles  to  our  work  and  success.  The 
seventh,  the  results  already  apparent,  and  the  prospects 
before  us.  The  church  was  overflowing,  and  many  had  to 
stand  the  whole  time.  I  tried  to  compress  my  matter  with- 
in one  hour  and  a  half,  and  it  seems  as  if  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord  had  attended  this  effort,  more  than  any  thing  else  that 
I  have  attempted  in  His  name.  I  rejoice  to  have  been  led 
to  adopt  your  suggestion  to  prepare  these  lectures,  for  they 
appear  to  be  the  very  thing  needed.  The  sixth  lecture, 
especially,  created  a  very  powerful  impression,  and  opened 
the  eyes  of  many,  who  thought  themselves  well  acquainted 
with  missionary  work  before.  In  it  I  called  on  the  people  to 
bring  forth  their  idols  of  silver  and  gold,  and  the  following 
day  a  young  lady  sent  me  three  gold  rings  and  two  gold  pins, 
with  a  beautiful  note.  This  morning  I  had  a  very  blessed 
season.    My  heart  was  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  my 


HIS  MISSIONARY  LECTURES. 


275 


unworthiness  and  sinfulness.  Oh  !  may  I  be  kept  in  this 
humble  and  softened  state,  feeling  that  the  instmment  is 
nothing,  and  Jesus  all  and  in  all !  I  dread  spiritual  giddi- 
ness, but  I  know  I  have  one  faithful  friend  who  constantl}^ 
bears  me  on  her  heart  before  God,  and  I  bless  Him  for  it. 
It  is  not  of  necessity  that  His  children  must  suffer  when  He 
puts  them  in  a  prominent  position.  He  can^  and  if  we  live 
near  him.  He  will  keep  us  from  falling ;  and  He  permits 
the  incense  I  get  to  be  often  mingled  with  myrrh.  Do  not 
forget  your  promise  to  remember  me,  particularly  at  the 
hours  I  am  lecturing.  The  real  success  depends  on  the 
dropping  of  the  divine  dew.  To  begin  at  head-quarters  has 
been  no  easy  task,  and  the  Basle  people  are  not  so  soon 
pleased  as  those  who  know  less  ;  but  the  interest  increased 
to  the  last,  and  men  well  versed  in  the  things  of  God  assured 
me,  that  though  no  strong  or  exuberant  feeling  was  mani- 
fested, for  there  is  not  much  caloric  or  quicksilver  in  the 
Basle  people,  the  impression  will  be  deep  and  lasting.  One 
great  cause  of  thankfulness  was,  that  many  persons  of  the 
higher  ranks  attended,  who  decline  to  come  to  missionary 
meetings.  Besides  this,  the  students  in  the  missionary 
seminary,  of  whom  there  are  forty-seven,  tell  me  that  they 
have  learned  more  from  these  lectures  about  missionary 
work,  than  from  any  thing  else  they  have  ever  heard.  I  had 
a  very  nice  farewell  meeting  with  them  last  Thursday,  and 
then  came  on  from  Basle  to  Strasburg,  and  stopped  with 
Mr.  Hausmeister.  When  I  left  Germany,  fifteen  years  ago, 
this  place  was  like  other  French  towns,  overcast  with  spirit- 
ual darkness,  and  it  contained  but  a  few  real  believers. 
Now  there  are  hundreds  who  love  the  Lord,  and  take  a 
lively  interest  in  the  spread  of  Christ's  kingdom.  On  Sun- 
day evening  I  held  a  meeting  there,  and  had  seven  hundred 
people  in  church.  On  Monday,  another  was  held  in  a  large 
village  near,  where  the  church  was  full  to  overflowing.  On 


276         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

Tuesday  a  third  at  Strasburg,  with  eight  hundred  hearers, 
and  on  Wednesday  a  fourth. 

"  A  few  days  previous  to  nay  arrival  there,  two  ministers 
were  heard  remarking  to  each  other,  that  half,  or  at  least 
one  third,  of  the  accounts  which  missionaries  wrote  from 
heathen  lands  were  lies.  In  my  address  from  the  pulpit  in 
St.  Peter's  Church,  I  plainly  stated  this,  and  inquired  of  the 
congregation,  '  Is  it  possible,  my  friends,  that  men  who  go 
forth  with  their  lives  in  their  hands  should  tell  lies  V  Both 
the  ministers  were  present ;  and  when  I  retired  to  the  ves- 
try after  service,  one  of  them  affectionately  embraced  me. 

"The  ministers  in  the  Hohenloe  country  are  delighted 
with  my  coming,  and  the  churches  are  immensely  crowded, 
for  no  missionary  has  ever  visited  this  part  of  Germany  be- 
fore ;  and  I  am  permitted  to  see  that  the  Lord  is  smiling  on 
my  labors.  In  the  evening,  my  quarters  are  always  filled 
with  people,  who  are  eager  to  hear  what  God  is  doing  in 
heathen  lands.  I  have  been  at  the  theological  seminary  of 
Schonthal,  from  whence  several  young  men  are  going  to  the 
university  next  year.  I  feel  sure  a  fire  was  kindled  among 
them,  which  is  not  likely  to  be  extinguished.  I  first  address- 
ed them  in  the  church,  then  visited  them  in  their  own  rooms ; 
and  afterwards  they  begged  a  second  meeting  in  the  evening, 
for  which  they  expressed  their  gratitude  very  feelingly. 

"  I  visited  the  family  of  Prince  Hohenloe  Lauenberg,  who 
married  Queen  Victoria's  half-sister.  The  Prince  and 
Princess  were  at  Windsor  visiting  the  Queen ;  but  I  saw 
their  six  children,  who  were  delighted  to  hear  anecdotes  from 
a  missionary.  The  youngest  told  me  she  was  so  happy  her 
mamma  was  soon  coming  back,  and  would  bring  her  some 
nice  things  from  London,  and  many  presents  from  her  aunt 
Victoria.  To-morrow  evening  I  am  going  to  join  the  even- 
ing party  of  Prince  Hohenloe  Jaxtberg,  who  is  a  Roman 
Catholic,  but  has  heard  my  missionary  address  ;  for  I  have 


REMARKABLE  CONGREGATIONS. 


277 


had  people  of  all  creeds  and  confessions ;  Jews,  Catholics, 
and  Protestants ;  and  all  have  united  in  their  free-will  offer- 
ings. I  am  thankful  to  have  an  opportunity  of  introducing 
missionary  work  to  the  notice  of  the  nobility,  and  among 
the  circle  of  the  Prince's  friends.  My  labors  among  so 
many  good  people  have  been  blessed  to  my  own  soul ;  and 
I  feel  more  and  more  of  that  happy  state,  when  we  can  do 
every  thing  with  the  Lord,  in  childlike  reliance  on  Him, 
and  His  blessing. 

"  19ih. — Yesterday  I  was  at  Kirchberg.  Fifteen  hundred 
people  were  in  the  church,  and  among  them  the  Prince  of 
Hohenloe  Kirchberg,  who  sent  for  me  and  wished  me  to 
dine  with  him.  I  was  engaged.  He  is  an  old  general,  and 
a  very  kind-hearted  man ;  he  shook  hands  with  me  most 
cordially,  and  wished  me  God's  blessing.  The  church,  in 
which  I  am  to  speak  this  evening,  is  very  large  :  may  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  be  with  me,  and  bring  home  my 
words  to  the  hearts  of  the  hearers  ! 

''''Evening. — I  wish  you  could  have  seen  the  masses  of  hear- 
ers this  day.  I  spoke  an  hour  and  a  half  The  people  seem- 
ed quite  electrified.  The  church  resembles  Strasburg  Cathe- 
dral. There  were  about  three  thousand  persons  present, 
sixteen  of  whom  were  ministers.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight. 
An  old  infidel  physician,  who  had  not  been  in  church  for 
thirty  years,  attended.  He  was  quite  shaken  down,  and 
sent  us  a  present  for  our  work. 

"  November  26. — I  am  glad  and  thankful  that  my  trip 
through  the  Hohenloe  country  is  accomplished ;  it  was 
fatiguing  work,  and  nothing  but  an  especial  measure  of 
divine  assistance  and  grace  could  have  enabled  me  to  go 
through  it.  Sixteen  public  meetings  in  fourteen  days  ;  and 
these  did  not  constitute  the  chief  part  of  the  exertion.  The 
houses  where  I  was,  became  crowded  with  eager  hearers, 
and  I  had  to  relate,  advise,  exhort,  from  morning  till  night 


278  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

In  ten  places  we  had  evening  meetings  to  establish  mission 
ary  associations.  The  Lord  has  truly  blessed  my  poor  la- 
bors. '  Not  unto  us,  but  unto  His  name  be  the  glory.'  My 
spirit  was  truly  refreshed  in  one  place  by  a  pious  widow, 
whose  heart  was  overflowing  with  love  to  God  and  the  breth- 
ren. I  shall  never  forget  her ;  that  was  a  delightful  evening. 
I  believe  I  felt  more  than  ever  the  necessity  of  living  for 
eternity,  and  doing  all  for  the  glory  of  God.  Oh !  for  grace 
to  be  faithful ! 

'"^December  2,  1843. — I  am  sorry  my  last  was  delayed 
some  days;  but  never  be  anxious  about  me;  for  I  am 
in  the  best  hands,  and  have  had  a  new  proof  of  this  in  my 
late  trip,  for  which  I  needed  and  received  an  especial  measure 
of  help  for  extraordinary  exertions.  At  Halle,  the  beautiful 
church  of  St.  Michael's  presented  a  scene  which  equalled 
Exeter  Hall  at  the  Church  Missionary  anniversary  ;  it  was 
filled  with  three  thousand  attentive  hearers,  who  did  not  stir 
for  the  space  of  nearly  two  hours.  At  Oeringen,  the  minis- 
ter refused  the  use  of  the  church,  so  the  people  took  carts, 
omnibuses,  wagons,  etc.,  and  drove  off  to  a  neighboring 
village,  where  we  had  a  meeting,  and  came  back  in  the  even- 
ing, and  formed  an  auxiliary  in  a  private  house.  The  op- 
position acted  like  oil  thrown  upon  a  flame,  it  made  it  burn 
and  blaze  more.  Creglingen  was  the  next  place,  where  the 
minister,  who  was  an  old  Rationalist,  gave  the  church,  but 
predicted  it  would  be  empty.  It  was,  however,  filled  with 
sixteen  hundred  eager  hearers,  and  we  got  a  good  collection, 
to  which  many  Jews  who  were  present  contributed.  At 
Freudenbach,  on  the  borders  of  Bavaria,  many  Bavarian 
ministers  came  to  church.  At  Elbersheim,  a  pious  minister 
who  feared  no  good  would  come  out  of  his  flock,  was  quite 
encouraged  ;  for  his  people  came  and  brought  their  oflerings 
to  his  house,  and  an  association  was  formed,  who  are  to  meet 
for  reading  and  prayer  every  Sunday  evening. 


WONDERFUL  MOVEMENT. 


279 


"  I  was  last  Sunday  at  Mergentheim,  and  dined  with  the 
Dukes  Paul  and  Adam  of  Wurtemberg,  who  promised  to 
become  subscribers  to  the  Basle  Missionary  Society,  which 
they  afterwards  did.  This  town  contains  only  four  hundred 
Protestants,  so  we  expected  but  a  small  congregation ;  but 
the  whole  population  came,  not  only  of  the  town,  but  the 
neighborhood.  The  church  was  crammed  full ;  one  might 
have  walked  on  the  heads  of  the  people ;  there  must  have 
been  fifteen  hundred,  who  listened  all  the  time  in  breathless 
silence.  Both  the  Dukes  were  present ;  and  oh !  how  these 
people  seemed  to  rejoice  in  getting  some  sound  gospel  food ! 
Alas  !  they  have  been,  all  their  lives  long,  turned  off  with 
the  husks  of  Popish  superstition ;  and  God  helps  me  to  em- 
brace these  fine  opportunities  of  speaking,  as  He  may  enable 
me,  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  my  hearers.  Letters 
have  reached  Stuttgart,  communicating  the  great  and  general 
impression  which  this  visit  in  the  Hohenloe  country  has  pro- 
duced. May  the  Lord  Jesus  water  the  seed  I  have  been 
permitted  to  sow,  with  the  dew  of  His  divine  grace !  I 
could  see  and  feel  everywhere  that  He  was  with  me.  I 
never  witnessed  any  thing  like  it  before.  Many  ministers 
and  congregations  have  been  stirred  up.  Six  months  instead 
of  fourteen  days  might  well  have  been  spent,  for  there  were 
numbers  of  places  I  could  not  touch.  What  a  pity  it  can 
not  be  done !  The  prayers  of  hundreds  followed  me  in  my 
labors ;  and  I  ascribe  this  wonderful  movement  chiefly  to 
this.  The  Roman  Catholic  Prince  of  Hohenloe  Jaxtberg, 
who  heard  me  the  week  before,  came  to  Mergentheim  on 
Sunday  to  hear  me  again.  He  said :  '  I  felt  no  rest  at  home. 
I  was  obliged  to  come  and  hear  you  once  more.'  At  Creg- 
lingen  an  old  peasant  woman,  who  had  followed  me  from 
Freudenbach,  came  to  me,  and  said :  '  O  sir  !  I  am  so  glad 
to  see  you ;  my  heart  was  warmed  yesterday.  I  love  the 
Saviour,  and  want  to  love  Him  more :  will  you  pray  for 


280         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

me  ?  1  have  to  suffer  much  ridicule  and  persecution  in  my 
village,  for  they  neither  know  nor  love  Jesus.  I  had  an  only 
daughter.  She  died,  and  I  am  left  alone.  She  spun  and 
prepared  a  piece  of  flaxen  cloth,  but  could  only  half  finish  it. 
It  was  worth  ten  batsen  the  ell,  (about  Is.,)  but  I  can  not  sell 
it,  because  it  is  the  last  thing  my  dear  child  ever  made. 
Pray  accept  a  part  of  it,  and  have  a  shirt  made  of  it.  Wear 
it  when  you  are  among  the  heathen,  and  then  think  of  me 
as  you  look  at  it,  and  pray  that  I  may  be  faithful  to  the  end, 
and  that  my  latter  end  may  be  peace.  I  hope  I  shall  meet 
you  in  heaven  again.'  I  was  almost  moved  to  tears.  If 
any  feeling  is  at  present  preponderating  in  my  mind,  it  is  this, 
that  the  more  we  are  permitted  to  witness  the  work  of  God . 
in  sinners,  the  more  will  the  instruments  be  abased  and 
humbled  in  the  dust.  I  trust  I  have  learned  a  lesson  lately, 
which  will  remain  deeply  imprinted  on  my  heart  and 
memory  all  my  life  ;  it  is  this,  to  live  nearer  to  God,  to  be- 
lieve and  realize  His  promises  more  in  all  my  undertakings, 
and  to  ascribe  all  the  glory  more  entirely  to  Him  !  How 
little  we  understand  what  it  means,  to  spend  and  be  spent 
for  Him  !  My  mind  has  been  much  engaged  this  week,  in 
thinking  of  the  death  of  our  dear  brother  De  Rodt.  Is  there 
any  thing  among  us  that  displeases  the  Lord,  and  leads  Him 
to  call  away  from  our  number  those  we  seem  tHe  least  able 
to  spare,  our  most  efficient  and  devoted  laborers  1  Does 
selfishness,  church  pride,  worldly  wisdom,  exist  among  us 
and  those  who  guide  us,  and  provoke  His  judgments,  and 
lead  Him  to  withhold  the  blessing  He  is  so  ready  to  pour 
out,  when  it  is  sought  aright  ?  Oh !  for  a  greater  measure 
of  devotedness,  divine  wisdom,  and  holy  love,  to  furnish  us 
well  for  our  blessed  work  of  missions ! 

"  My  lectures  commence  at  Stuttgart  on  the  1st,  and  con- 
tinue to  the  8th  of  December.  Government  have  granted 
me  the  garrison  church,  which  holds  eighteen  hundred  people. 


LECTURES  AT  HEILBONN. 


281 


I  shall  spend  Christmas  in  my  native  town  among  my  dear 
relatives,  holding  meetings  daily  there,  and  in  my  brothers' 
parishes.  Our  heavenly  Father  will  indemnify  us  abund- 
antly for  this  long  trial  of  separation,  and  all  the  sacrifices 
we  make  for  His  name's  sake  and  the  good  of  souls.  Tell 
the  dear  Bridges  how  grateful  I  feel  to  Him,  that  he  has  pro- 
vided, in  them,  such  kind  and  affectionate  friends,  who  are 
caring  for  my  wife  and  little  ones  when  I  have  to  leave  them. 
May  He  reward  them  with  rich  supplies  of  grace  from  His 
own  inexhaustible  treasury !  I  feel  called  upon  to  pray  for 
them  that  thus  it  may  be ;  and  when  I  remember  them,  it  is 
with  the  delightful  assurance  that  we  are  united  in  the  best 
of  bonds ;  and  though  I  am  now  at  a  great  distance  from 
dear  England,  I  can  realize  that  fellowship  of  spirit,  that 
raises  us  above  all  sublunary  things,  and  causes  distance  to 
cease  at  once.  In  my  sleeping  hours  I  am  often  with  you, 
and  have  a  little  one  upon  my  knee,  and  feel  so  happy." 

These  records  remind  us  of  some  of  the  scenes  in  the  days 
of  Whitefield. 

We  go  on  with  extracts : 

"Stuttgart,  Dec.  17 tk. 
"On  Tuesday  last,  I  came  to  Heilbronn  to  deliver 
my  lectures.  The  good  people  were  delighted.  I  gave 
the  first  two  in  a  hall,  but  it  became  so  crowded  that 
the  steam  of  the  breath  was  overpowering,  and  the  candles 
would  not  burn ;  we  therefore  adjourned  to  the  church, 
where  the  chandeliers  are  lighted.  It  is  delightful  to 
see  the  masses  of  people,  and  the  numbers  are  increasing 
every  evening.  Thank  God,  I  am  well  and  strong.  I  use 
neither  wine  nor  beer,  but  drink  a  bottle  of  water  every 
morning. 

"  24:tk. — On  Sunday  and  Monday  evenings  many  return- 
ed home,  finding  no  room  in  the  church.  The  town  was,  as 
it  were,  in  an  uproar.  During  the  last  lecture  many  were 
in  tears.    While  deliverin^r  them.  I  held  morning  meet- 


282  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBREOHT. 

ings  at  some  neighboring  places ;  so  it  was  all  the  while 
double  work. 

"  On  Tuesday  I  left  Hielbronn,  and  held  a  meeting  at  the 
first  large  town  near  it,  where  I  met  Mr.  Burk,  who  wrote 
the  life  of  Bengel,  and  some  more  dear  people  of  God.  On 
Wednesday  Leupolt  joined  me,  and  we  attended  the  mis- 
sionary  anniversary  at  Waiblingen,  which  was  very  inter- 
esting ;  we  both  spoke,  and  then  went  on  to  Pastor  Werner's, 
where  Dr.  Earth  joined  us,  and  we  had  a  happy  time  toge- 
ther. At  brother  Frederick's  we  held  a  missionary  meeting 
on  Christmas-day.  On  Tuesday,  another  in  Schorndorf, 
Friday,  one  at  Goppingen,  and  New- Year's  day  at  Heiden- 
beim,  a  most  important  place.  I  am  healthy  and  strong, 
which  is  a  great  mercy,  considering  how  I  have  been  work- 
ing. I  have  often  entreated  the  Lord  for  strength  according 
to  my  day,  and  how  graciously  has  He  answered  my  prayer ! 
It  was  a  great  effort  to  speak  for  an  hour  and  a  half  in  that 
large  church  at  Heilbronn,  and  to  hold  meetings  besides  in 
the  forenoons,  but  every  morning  I  rose  as  fresh  and  as 
well  as  I  could  wish.  *  Oh !  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor' 
am  I,  even  in  these  blessings  !  I  hope  to  have  finished  at 
Zurich  by  the  22d  January,  and  to  be  in  England  by  the 
end  of  the  month." 

"  Schorndorf,  Dec.  28^A. 
"  The  church  to-day  was  very  full,  and  a  splendid  collec- 
tion was  made.  I  have  had  a  very  nice  audience  with  the 
Queen  since.  She  was  very  kind,  and  wishes  to  see  us 
again  in  the  summer.  I  encountered  a  dreadful  storm  in 
crossing  the  Wurtemberger  Alps,  so  that  the  coach  was 
nearly  blown  over,  and  I  caught  a  severe  cold,  the  first  I 
have  had  this  winter." 

"  Carlsruhe,  January  20,  1844. 
"  I  am  now  on  my  way  home.    In  the  diligence  from 
Strasburg,  I  had  a  long  discussion  with  a  young  infidel.  A 


A  CAVILLER  SILENCED. 


283 


Jew  who  was  sitting  by,  listened  with  eager  interest.  The 
young  caviller  said  '  that  Christ  was  nothing  but  a  wise  man; 
that  the  Bible  was' — what  I  will  not  repeat.  I  first  tried 
to  show  him  that  he  talked  against,  reason ;  and  then  I  ap- 
pealed in  the  strongest  way  I  could  to  his  conscience,  telling 
him,  '  You  have  no  peace.''  He  retorted  :  '  My  mother  is  an 
English  lady,  and  just  such  a  fanatical  person  as  yourself ;  she 
always  reads  the  Bible  and  talks  of  prayer.'  I  replied  :  '  Sir, 
the  prayers  of  your  mother  will  be  like  spears  and  arrows  in 
your  conscience,  and  you  will  have  no  rest  till  you  apply  to 
the  same  Saviour  for  mercy  in  whom  she  trusts.'  He  felt  ex- 
ceedingly uneasy,  and  I  left  him  to  his  own  reflections. 
The  Jew  seemed  delighted,  and  related  to  a  friend,  with 
lively  interest,  how  the  young  infidel  had  been  refuted  and 
silenced,  and  he  really  appeared  affected  by  the  truth  himself. 
I  had  a  delightful  afternoon  with  the  pious  Margravine  of 
Carlsruhe  ;  her  little  girls  were  so  pleased  with  the  mission- 
ary anecdotes  I  told  them,  that  they  could  not  eat  their 
supper  for  joy.  '  No,'  said  they  to  their  governess,,  '  we 
have  something  much  better  than  food,'  and  they  eagerly  re- 
turned to  me.  The  Margravine  is  looking  out  for  an  Eng- 
lish governess  for  those  three  little  princesses.  She  is  a 
very  warm-hearted  Christian,  sister  to  the  Queen  of  Wurt- 
emberg." 

The  impressions  then  made  in  the  Hohenloe  country  have 
never  passed  away  ;  and  it  was  but  a  few  months  since  that 
a  respectable  farmer  there  related  to  a  missionary  that  he  had 
actually  stood  up  before  an  assembly  of  learned  ministers 
who  spoke  disparagingly  of  Mr.  W.,  and  declared  his  con- 
viction that  he  had  never  seen  a  man  in  whom  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  so  abundantly  manifested  as  it  was  in 
Missionary  Weitbrecht  during  that  period. 

In  his  confidential  correspondence  we  find  him  saying : 
"  I  do  most  cordially  agree  with  the  remarks  you  made  on 


284         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

the  peculiar  dangers  we  are  exposed  to  from  our  present 
position,  and  our  great  need  of  prayer.  We  often  said  at 
Burdwan  that  the  Lord  was  probably  preparing  us,  by  cut- 
ting trials,  for  greater  usefulness  and  sweeter  enjoyments. 
Such  a  preparation  was  indeed  necessary  to  soften  and  hum- 
ble the  heart.  I  do  feel  most  deeply,  that  if  we  give  not 
the  Lord  all  the  glory ^  we  must  expect  a  new  and  severer 
discipline.  May  He  help  us  to  watch  and  pray,  and 
be  faithful  to  each  oth^r  when  we  observe  each  other  in 
danger !" 

By  his  brother  Lacroix,  who  had  returned  to  India,  and 
been  much  cheered  by  the  accounts  he  had  there  received 
of  his  extraordinary  usefulness,  he  was  warmly  congratulat- 
ed. "  The  news  of  your  great  success  in  Germany,"  wrote 
this  sympathizing  and  affectionate  brother,  "  has  given  me 
most  sincere  pleasure.  The  Lord  has  been  evidently  with 
you,  and  the  recollection  of  it  will  be  a  great  solace  to  you 
when  you  are  back  in  your  old  sphere :  I  know  it  by  expe- 
rience !  How  great  cause  have  both  of  us,  my  brother,  to 
bless  God  for  what  He  has  done  through  us  in  our  native 
countries :  but  we  want  you  very  much  in  India.  Do  not 
delay  to  return.  Burdwan  is  now  without  a  missionary, 
and  the  Church  Missionary  Society  has  not  one  to  send 
there." 

To  Mr.  Jetter  he  writes :  "  My  continental  tour  is  finished. 
I  feel  truly  thankful  for  the  great  blessing  that  has  accom- 
panied it.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  souls  were  converted 
and  many  ministers  stirred  up.  After  all  I  have  seen  of 
the  moral  and  religious  state  of  Germany,  I  do  believe  that, 
taken  as  a  whole,  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  like  Eng- 
land, and  nowhere  so  much  practical  religion  as  amgng  the 
people  and  clergy  of  this  country  as  a  body.  I  do  not  say 
learning.  Germany  wants  Whitefields,  Wesleys,  Henry 
Venns,  and  men  of  this  calibre,  to  inspire  the  devoted  ones 
among  God's  servants  with  courage  and  zeal,  and  the  dispo- 


LABORS    IN  ENGLAND. 


285 


sition  to  do  good  upon  a  more  extensive  scale.  What  a 
shame,  for  instance,  that  theatres  are  open  on  a  Sunday, 
even  at  Stuttgart,  without  a  combined  effort  being  made,  on 
the  part  of  pious  ministers  and  laymen,  to  bear  their  strong 
and  solemn  testimony  against  such  and  other  profanations, 
which  draw  down  the  wrath  of  God  upon  a  country,  and 
lead  Him  to  withhold  His  blessing.  I  have  just  been  to 
breakfast  with  Dr.  Wilson  of  Bombay — a  fine,  noble-minded 
man." 

On  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  return  to  England,  in  February 
1844,  his  engagements  recommenced.  He  was  in  every 
county  in  England  except  Rutlandshire,  and  he  likewise 
visited  Scotland ;  in  the  short  periods  of  freedom  that  he 
could  command,  he  translated  his  lectures  and  delivered 
them  in  several  places  in  this  country,  and  afterwards  pub- 
lished them  by  request.*  One  lady,  who  heard  them  in 
Gordon  Square  Church,  sent  £50  as  a  thank-offering  to  the 
Church  Missionary  Society. 

A  missionary  brother  in  India  thus  describes  them,  after 
having  read  them  in  Calcutta  :  "  Although  very  unpretend- 
ing, they  contain  a  mass  of  valuable  information,  rendered 
interesting  by  the  transparent  candor  of  the  writer,  and  the 
freshness  and  simplicity  of  his  style." 

The  book  obtained  an  extensive  circulation  both  in  Eng- 
land and  in  Germany,  where  they  were  subsequently  pub- 
lished in  their  original  form,  as  they  had  been  first  prepared 
for  delivery. 

He  writes  to  a  dear  relative  :  "  I  have  had  much  enjoy- 
ment in  my  labors  in  England,  though  they  have  been 
rather  exhausting.  I  had  no  Brahmuns  to  abuse  me,  and 
call  me  a  vagabond ;  but  numbers  of  cordial  friends,  full 

*  Protestant  Missions  in  Bengal  Illustrated.  By  J.  J.  "Wcitbrecht, 
Church  Missionary.  May  be  had  of  J.  F.  Shaw,  Publisher,  Southamp- 
ton Row.    Price,  5s. 


286  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

of  hearty  love,  to  cheer  and  encourage  me.  The  other  day 
at  Cowes,  I  had  the  elite  of  the  nobility  before  me.  I 
preached  to  them  just  the  same  plain  truths  I  did  to  the 
heathen  in  Bengal.  '  Christ  and  His  cross  is  all  our  theme.' 
They  were  very  attentive,  and  I  hope  it  will  do  them  good. 
I  have  attended  above  two  hundred  meetings,  and  preached 
above  one  hundred  sermons  for  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  besides  delivering  my  lectures,  and  am  going  to 
spend  a  season  of  rest  with  my  relatives  before  embarking 
for  India.  God's  blessing  has  accompanied  my  feeble 
efforts ;  and  I  felt  deeply  when  we  had  our  farewell  meeting, 
and  I  received  my  second  dismissal.  It  was  a  solemn  and 
heart-stirring  occasion.  The  Lord  has  been  very  merciful 
to  me  in  England.  My  ministry  has  been  acceptably  re- 
ceived in  every  place,  and  many  of  my  brethren  tell  me 
they  have  been  stirred  up.  To  Him  alone  be  the  praise, 
who  hears  the  prayers  and  sees  the  tears  of  His  unworthy 
servants.  I  shrunk  from  standing  up  before  large  audiences 
in  England,  and  that  text  comforted  me,  '  Who  art  thou,  O 
great  mountain?  before  Zerubbabel  thou  shalt  become  a 
plain.'  It  has  been  literally  fulfilled.  Then  again  I  have 
derived  great  blessing  from  the  men  of  God  with  whom  I 
have  gone  on  deputation,  particularly  from  dear  Baptist 
Noel.  I  never  saw  a  man  who  lives  and  moves  before  God 
as  that  man  does.  He  seems  to  act  as  in  His  presence,  in 
all  he  says  and  does.  His  private  habits  and  converse  have 
been  most  profitable  to  me ;  and  as  to  his  speeches,  I 
always  felt  them  to  be  the  finishing  touch  of  a  meeting ; 
for  his  sublime,  solemn,  heart-stirring  appeals  evidently 
carried  the  audience  along  with  him.  He  has  done  my  soul 
good. 

"  No  spot  in  England  interested  me  more  than  Jane 
the  Young  Cottager's  grave  in  Brading  churchyard,  and 
that  cliff  where  Legh  Richmond  saw  his  negro  boy  reading 
the  Bible." 


SECOND  DEPARTURE  FROM  ENGLAND. 


287 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Second  Departare  from  England — Overland  Yoyage  to  India-^ Arrival 
at  Calcutta — ^Proceeds  to  Burdwan — Reception — First  Engagements — 
Prospects — Sale  for  the  Schools — Groes  to  Krishnaghur  to  First  Mis- 
sionaiy  Conference. 

1844—1845. 

At  the  beginning  of  October,  ]Mr.  Weitbrecht  again  bade 
farewell  to  Europe.  "  The  lovely  days  of  our  sojourn  in  our 
native  countries,"  he  writes,  "have  passed  away  like  a 
dream.  Our  leave  is  spent,  and  we  return  to  fight  for  our 
Lord,  and  to  suffer  as  faithful  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ.  The 
hours  I  have  enjoyed  in  my  fatherland  have  been  precious 
hours.  I  have  seen  much,  heard  much,  and  gathered  food 
for  many  days.  Three  important  years  now  lie  behind  me, 
since  that  November  evening,  when,  with  my  beloved  wife 
and  childi'en,  I  left  Burdwan,  a  feeble  and  exhausted  laborer, 
to  renew  my  strength  and  energy  in  the  bracing  air  of  home. 
Many  an  earnest  petition  ascended  to  God  on  that  return 
voyage,  and  every  one  has  been  fully  answered,  and  I  can 
now  again  advance  cheerfully,  on  another  stage  of  the  rough 
pilgrimage." 

"  Leave-taking,"  he  continues,  "is  no  easy  matter,  and  we 
felt  it  especially  painful  in  reference  to  our  dear  children. 
We  left  London  on  the  30th  of  September,  the  aged  mother 


288         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

of  my  dear  wife,  her  sister,  and  several  friends,  accompanied 
us  to  the  station.  Hosts  of  farewell  notes  had  been  pouring 
in  previously,  and  many  a  message  was  sent  and  received. 
At  length  the  train  started,  dear  little  F.  stretched  out  his 
hands  once  more  towards  us ;  and  in  another  moment  we 
were  gone.  What  a  mother's  and  a  father's  heart  feels  at 
such  a  time  is  indescribable.  I  looked  up  to  heaven  and 
said  :  '  O  Lord !  do  Thou  help  and  bless  them,  do  Thou  pro- 
vide.' We  sat  silently  side  by  side  in  the  carriage,  which, 
in  three  hours,  brought  us  to  Southampton,  from  whence  we 
passed  over  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  spent  three  days  in 
quietness  and  retirement,  to  recover  and  refresh  our  spirits, 
after  the  deeply  affecting  partings. 

"  We  went  on  board  on  the  3d  ;  the  vessel  was  crowded 
with  passengers  and  their  friends.  Many  a  sigh  was  heard, 
and  many  a  tear  flowed.  As  soon  as  the  mail  was  on  board, 
the  anchor  was  weighed  and  the  signal  to  start  was  given. 
We  had  one  more  painful  farewell  to  take,  which  cost  us 
almost  more  than  the  preceding  ones,  because  it  seemed  to 
cut  the  last  link  of  the  chain.  The  faithful  nurse  of  our 
darling  Henry  put  the  little  one  into  my  arms,  and  burst 
into  an  agony  of  bitter  tears,  which  quite  overcame  us. 
May  the  Lord  reward  the  valuable  services  of  this  good 
young  woman !  The  steamer  was  quickly  cleared  of  all  but 
the  passengers,  the  crowd  stood  on  the  shore  cheering  us  as 
the  vessel  moved  away  from  the  place,  and  presently  we 
were  out  of  sight  and  of  hearing,  afloat  upon  the  mighty 
waters." 

The  voyage  was,  on  the  whole,  a  pleasant  one,  and  the 
overland  route  being  entirely  new  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht, 
proved  deeply  interesting.  On  the  second  day  on  board,  he 
began  his  labors  among  the  passengers ;  he  preached,  visited 
an  invalid  lady  in  her  cabin,  and  soon  found  that  there  were 


PLEASANT  AND  INTERESTING  VOYAGE.  289 

several  like-minded  friends  on  board,  for  one  or  two  came 
up  to  him,  and  introduced  themselves  after  his  first  sermon. 
He  rejoiced  much  in  this  circumstance,  and  regarded  it  as  a 
compensation  from  his  Lord,  for  what  He  had  just  called  him 
to  relinquish.  He  writes :  "  Whilst  sailing  along  the  west- 
ern coast  of  Europe,  my  heart  often  swelled  with  joyful 
emotion,  as  I  said  with  David  :  '  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd, 
I  shall  not  want.  He  leads  me.'  This  blessed  frame  of 
mind  assuredly  arose  from  the  fact,  that  thousands  of  God's 
dear  children  were  following  us  with  intercessory  prayer. 
Thus  our  sails  were  filled  with  a  breeze  that  carried  us  safely 
and  prosperously  onward.  Where  much  prayer  is,  there 
must  be  much  blessing." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  been  appointed  to  act  as  chaplain  on 
board  the  steamer,  and  a  considerable  reduction  was  made 
in  his  passage-money  on  this  account.  He  obtained  permis- 
sion to  have  morning  prayers  in  the  saloon  daily,  when  he 
was  usually  joined  by  a  number  of  persons ;  and  he  con- 
ducted two  full  services  on  Sundays,  which  were  well 
attended.  Besides  this,  he  improved  every  opportunity  that 
offered  for  sowing  the  good  seed.  One  evening  he  sat  on 
deck,  with  some  of  the  younger  passengers  around  him,  who 
admired  with  him  the  beautiful  starry  sky,  and  the  moon 
sinking  into  the  ocean.  He  called  on  them  to  praise  God  as 
the  Creator  of  such  surpassing  beauties.  One  young  man 
rejoined  :  "  I  can  not,  for  I  am  unconverted,  and  do  not  love 
the  Father  who  has  made  all  this."  Mr.  Weitbrecht  earnest- 
ly entreated  him  not  to  retire  that  night,  until  he  had 
besought  the  Lord  for  the  blessing  of  a  new  creation  in  his 
o-svn  heart. 

The  incidents  of  the  journey  to  Calcutta  are  passed  over, 
though  they  were  all  full  of  Christian  interest.  November 
24  he  reached  Calcutta. 

After  a  few  days'  sojourn  among  their  brethren,  during 
13 


290  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


which  a  most  encouraging  fact  was  made  known  to  them,* 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  proceeded  to  Burdwan,  where 
they  were  received  with  the  greatest  joy  and  delight  by  the 
native  Christians,  on  the  18th  December.  Among  those 
who  greeted  him  at  Chinsurah,  was  an  humble  friend,  Mrs. 
B.  When  he  entered  her  dwelling,  she  stood  up  and  said : 
"  Now  the  Lord  has  again  answered  my  poor  prayers,  dear 
sir,  and  brought  you  back  to  tell  the  poor  Hindus  once  more 
of  Jesus'  love."  She  embraced  Mrs.  Weitbrecht,  and  add- 
ed:  "I  can  not  tell  you  how  I  have  entreated  the  Lord  for 
you,  since  you  have  been  gone.  May  He  make  you  both 
greater  blessings  than  ever !"  This  dear  woman  was  an 
Indo-Briton,  a  devoted  child  of  God,  walking  closely  with 
Him,  and  she  was  highly  esteemed  and  valued  by  ail  the 
missionaries  who  knew  her,  who,  it  can  not  be  doubted,  re- 
ceived many  a  choice  blessing  in  answer  to  her  prayers. 
She  died  about  three  years  after,  and  when  she  was  conscious 
of  being  seized  with  the  fatal  illness,  (cholera,)  she  came  out 
and  prepared  breakfast  for  a  Christian  friend  who  resided 
with  her,  as  the  last  act  of  love  she  could  render  him  on 
earth,  and  calmly  told  him  she  had  received  the  Master's 
summons,  and  would  be  with  Him  in  glory  that  evening. 

*  The  fax3t  above  alluded  to  was  so  peculiarly  cheering  to  the  spirit  of 
Mr.  Weitbrecht,  coming  to  his  knowledge  as  it  did,  just  when  he  was 
deeply  sensible  of  the  wrench  which  he  had  again  gone  through,  *in 
leaving  his  home  and  so  many  who  were  dear  to  him,  and  entering 
afresh  upon  his  arduous  duties,  that  it  may  be  briefly  noticed  here  with- 
out impropriety.  He  went  one  evening  with  his  wife  to  hear  one  of  a 
set  of  lectures  in  reference  to  Eoman  Cathohcism,  then  being  dehvered 
by  the  Calcutta  missionaries  in  turn.  The  individual  whom  they  heard 
greeted  them  after  the  service  as  very  dear  friends,  which  he  explained 
by  telling  them,  that  it  was  to  a  Bible  given  him  by  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  in 
England,  many  years  before,  that  he  owed  his  own  conversion,  (he  had 
been  a  Roman  Cathohc,)  and  that  of  his  mother,  and  a  friend,  and  that 
he  had  finally  become  a  missionary.  A  new  proof  of  the  power  of  the 
simple  and  pure  Word  of  God  to  convert  the  heart. 


KIND  RECEPTION. 


291 


Her  only  request  to  the  doctor  was,  not  to  give  her  medi- 
cine that  would  stupefy  her,  as  she  wanted  to  say  a  word  for 
Jesus  to  her  friends,  and  to  tell  them  to  prepare  to  meet 
Him.  She  had  "  walked  with  God,"  and  had  eminently 
glorified  Him.  Heaven  had  entered  into  her  soul  on  earth, 
and  thus  prepared  her  to  enter  the  heaven  of  glory  above. 

It  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  various  visits  of  welcome, 
which  speedily  followed  Mr.  "Weitbrecht's  arrival  at  his  for- 
mer station.  The  Hindu  gentlemen  of  the  neighborhood,  as 
well  as  the  humbler  classes,  not  only  expressed  their  con- 
gratulations in  words,  but  by  the  oriental  custom  of  bring- 
ing presents;  and  on  the  following  Christmas-day,  which 
was  a  week  later,  called  by  the  Hindus  the  burra  deen,  or 
great  day  of  the  Sahib  logue,  Hindu  servants,  accompanied 
by  coolies  with  baskets  and  trays  on  their  heads,  as  Pha- 
raoh's baker  carried  the  baked  meats  for  his  master,  were 
seen  coming  in  from  all  sides,  with  a  profusion  of  native 
sweetmeats,  sugar,  fruit,  vegetables,  flowers,  fish,  and  simi- 
lar things,  so  that  every  table  in  the  house  was  covered  with 
these  friendly  offerings ;  and  many  were  the  kind  messages 
and  salaams  that  accompanied  them.  In  some  instances  the 
master  himself  came  behind,  as  is  very  usual,  and  quite  in 
accordance  with  the  similar  custom  alluded  to  in  Scripture. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Mr.  D'Rozario  had  been  placed 
at  -  Burdwan,  when  Mr.  Weitbrecht  left  in  1841,  to  assist 
]\Ir.  Lincke,  but  circumstances  caused  his  removal  in  less 
than  a  year  after,  and  Mr.  Lincke's  health  failed  so  entirely 
a  few  months  later,  that  he  had  to  return  to  Europe,  and  the 
mission  was  in  consequence  left  destitute.  An  English  cler- 
gyman. Rev.  E.  A.  Dicken,  who  was  providentially  brought 
to  the  notice  of  Archdeacon  Dealtry  in  this  emergency,  had 
resided  at  the  station  and  fulfilled  every  duty  in  his  power, 
till  the  return  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht.  This  was  the  best,  and, 
under  the  circumstances,  the  only  arrangement  that  seemed 


292  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


possible.  The  English  chapel  and  English  school  were  plac- 
ed in  Mr.  Dicken's  charge,  and  the  native  congregation,  etc., 
under  that  of  a  catechist  who  had  before  been  at  Burdwan, 
Kali  Komar  Ghose. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  writes  in  his  journal :  "  Mr.  Dicken  has 
made  various  nice  little  arrangements  for  our  reception, 
which  show  a  kind  and  brotherly  disposition.  He  is  a  very 
kind,  unassuming,  amiable  man,  of  pleasing  manners,  and  he 
is  willing  to  remain  some  months  longer,  till  Messrs  Geidt 
and  Reynolds,  the  latter  of  whom  has  come  here  for  a  year 
to  study  Bengali,  are  somewhat  prepared  to  assist  me. 

"  One  cause  of  sorrow  to  me  is  that  Koilas,  whom  I  loved 
so  tenderly  has  accepted  secular  employment  during  my 
visit  home.  I  had  hoped  to  find  him  nearly  ready  for  ordina- 
tion; whereas  he  is  in  a  high  situation  in  the  Collector's 
Court.  I  was  gratified  to  find  that  he  maintains  a  high  moral 
character,  and  thus  his  influence  as  a  Christian  will  continue 
to  act  beneficially  upon  the  native  community.  The  Hindus 
will  certainly  receive  favorable  impressions  of  Christianity, 
when  they  see  native  Christians  placed  in  situations  of 
considerable  responsibility  and  trust.  Koilas  has  built  him- 
self a  neat  bungalow  opposite  the  mission  premises,  the  in- 
side of  which  does  credit  to  his  pious  and  active  wife  Pea- 
ree,  who  is  an  industrious,  good  young  woman,  and  the  one 
we  left  in  charge  of  the  domestic  affairs  of  the  girls' 
school." 

The  young  woman  to  whom  reference  is  here  made,  had 
been  a  particularly  helpful  and  active  person  before  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weitbrecht  left  the  mission  for  a  season.  She  was  for 
many  years  in  the  orphan  school,  and  acted  as  a  domestic  ser- 
vant in  the  mission-house  after  she  grew  old  enough.  It  was 
while  in  service  that  her  conversion  occured,  after  a  fit  of  pas- 
sion and  ill-temper,  when  she  was  taken  by  himself  into  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  study,  tenderly  reasoned  with,  and  then  earnest- 


MISSIONARY  CONFERENCES. 


29S 


ly  prayed  for.  She  seemed  to  have  her  heart  touched  from 
that  hour,  and  manifested  in  after-life  a  singular  superiority 
of  character.  She  was,  at  the  period  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  re- 
turn, the  mother  of  two  children.  The  sequel  of  the  history 
of  both  Koilas  and  Pearee  will  be  given  hereafter. 

The  first  entry  in  the  journal  for  1845  is  as  follows :  "After 
an  absence  of  three  years,  I  am  once  more  placed  in  this  hea- 
then land,  and  I  desire  to  begin  this  year  in  humble  reliance 
on  my  covenant  God  and  Father  in  Jesus  Christ,  who  has 
hitherto  crowned  my  path  with  His  mercies.  Oh !  that  it 
may  please  Him  to  use  me  as  an  instrument,  unworthy  as  I 
feel  myself  to  be,  for  the  conversion  of  many  deluded  idola- 
ters in  Bengal !  Fully  persuaded  that  we  can  do  nothing 
without  His  especial  blessing,  in  so  holy  and  arduous  an  un- 
dertaking, I  would  wait  for  the  fulfillment  of  His  promises, 
and  labor  more  prayerfully.  O  Lord !  send  help  from  Thy 
sanctuary ;  prosper  the  work  of  our  hands,  yea,  the  work  of 
our  hands  prosper  Thou  it." 

During  February  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  with  the  newly-arrived 
brethren,  Reynolds  and  Geidt,  proceeded  to  Krishnaghur  to 
attend  a  missionary  conference,  the  object  of  which  will  be 
explained  on  the  next  page.  On  reaching  the  old  station  of 
Culna,  where  he  had  so  often  gone  to  visit  the  mission,  when 
it  was  under  his  superintendence,  they  found  the  bungalow 
formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Alexander  in  ruins.  The  station 
had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland, 
who  had  bought  the  premises  from  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  and  now  occupied  them.  Mr.  A.  had  removed  to 
Krishnaghur,  where  his  services  were  valuable,  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  large  accession  to  the  converts  there ;  and,  by 
a  friendly  understanding  between  the  two  Societies,  the  good 
work  was  now  being  carried  on  at  Culna,  by  another  section 
of  the  Church  of  Christ.  "  We  were  very  kindly  received," 
writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "by  the  catechist  of  the  Free  Church, 


294         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

Mr.  Chill,  and  breakfasted  with  him,  waiting  some  hours  for 
palanquin-bearers,  before  we  could  cross  the  river.  After 
we  had  made  good  our  landing  on  the  other  side,  we  halted 
again  at  Dignugger,  where  there  are  some  splendid  tamarind 
trees  ;  and  while  we  were  admiring  them,  the  people  gath- 
ering round,  I  addressed  them.  They  seemed  pleased  at  my 
calling  them  to  think  of  -  the  true  God.  We  reached  Krish- 
naghur  at  five  p.m.,  and  were  welcomed,  with  gladness,  by 
the  Blumhardts  and  the  other  brethren,  who  had  arrived 
before  us." 

This  was  the  first  of  a  series  of  conference  meetings, 
which  have  been  continued  ever  since,  and  have  been  pro- 
ductive of  much  good.  Mr.  Weitbrecht  thus  alludes  to 
them  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Coates,  after  the  second  meeting  was 
over,  and  at  a  later  period  in  this  year ;  but  his  remarks 
may  suitably  find  a  place  here,  as  they  so  well  elucidate 
some  of  the  objects  of  the  conferences,  and  the  benefits  aris- 
ing from  them. 

"  These  meetings,"  he  remarks,  "  are  becoming  increas- 
ingly important  to  the  prosperity  of  our  work.  We  wanted 
a  cement  to  unite  us  ;  now  we  have  it.  We  wanted  a  safe- 
ty-valve to  give  vent  to  our  complaints  ;  now  we  have  it : 
and  all  our  little  disturbances  will  henceforth  end  in  a  re- 
newal of  peaceful  intercourse  every  few  months.  We 
wanted  occasionally  a  time  of  relaxation  and  refreshment,  to 
cheer  the  drooping  heart  by  brotherly  converse  ;  this  object 
is  now  attained.  Every  one  of  us  is  looking  forward  with 
pleasure  to  the  next  meeting,  and  feeling  it  will  be  beneficial 
to  our  bodies,  as  well  as  to  our  souls.  I  am  most  deeply 
deeply  concerned  for  our  dear  brethren  fixed  in  the  out-sta- 
tions of  Krishnaghur,  beyond  the  reach  of  Christian,  almost 
of  civilized  society ;  and  that  in  a  climate  so  depressing  to 
the  animal  spirits.    The  strongest  man  gets  so  nervous,  as  to 


SOWING  IN  TEARS. 


295 


be  hardly  able  to  look  into  a  friend's  face,  when  he  comes 
out  of  his  jungles." 

While  in  England,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  repeatedly  dis- 
cussed the  desirableness  of  some  arrangement  of  this  kind, 
for  the  Bengal  brethren,  with  the  Secretaries  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  in  London,  who  had  very  kindly  and 
cordially  entered  into  his  views,  and  arranged  for  the  car- 
rying them  out  on  his  return  to  India.  He  refers  rather 
fully  to  the  working  of  this  plan,  in  the  present  year's  cor- 
respondence with  the  Society  ;  and  frequent  reference  will 
be  made  to  these  seasons  of  refreshing,  in  the  subsequent 
pages  of  this  Memoir.  They  were  certainly  productive  of 
that  brotherly  fellowship,  and  spirit-stirring  communion, 
which  was  so  peculiarly  congenial  to  the  cast  of  his  mind. 
Friendly,  sympathizing  intercourse  was  always  delightful  to 
him,  and  he  had  the  happy  tact  of  giving  it  a  spiritual  im- 
press, in  the  most  cheerful  and  natural  way.  His  own  joy 
on  these  occasions  was  uniformly  great,  and  he  valued  highly 
the  opportunities  they  afforded  him,  for  manifesting  his  love 
to  the  brethren.  He  never  missed  attending  these  assemblies 
once,  from  the  opening  one  now  noticed,  where  he  delivered 
the  first  address  to  his  brethren  from  1  Tim.  6  :  12,  to  the  last 
that  occurred  during  his  life,  when,  after  an  interval  of  seven 
years,  it  had  again  become  his  turn  to  exhort,  animate,  and 
encourage  them  to  persevere  in  their  great  work  ;  on  which 
occasion,  from  Rev.  2  :  10,  he  delivered  his  last  words  of 
advice  to  them,  a  few  days  only  before  he  departed  to  his 
heavenly  home. 

****** 

"  I  went,"  writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  to  Belna.  On  my 
way  I  felt  quite  overwhelmed  with  sorrow,  in  recollecting 
how  often  I  had  been  in  this  village  in  past  years,  and 
come  home  dripping  with  perspiration,  and  quite  worn  out 
with  fatigue  ;  yet  what  has  been  the  result  after  fourteen 


296  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

years  of  patient  effort  ?  Five  hundred  boys  at  least  have 
been  educated  in  our  vernacular  school ;  yet  not  one  lad, 
that  I  know  ofj  has  been  converted  to  Jesus — ^not  one  sinner 
saved.  Oh  !  this  is  very  trying  !  When  will  this  fearful 
system  of  Hinduism  break  down  1  When  shall  we  see  our 
labors  crowned  with  success?  Amidst  so  many,  this  is 
doubtless  the  severest  trial  of  the  missionary  laborer  in 
Bengal."  * 

*  From  this  fact,  here  so  honestly  and  strongly  stated,  something 
may  be  learned  of  the  value  of  schools  as  compared  with  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel.  On  this  pomt  Mr.  W.'s  views  and  practice  seem  to 
have  accorded  mainly  with  those  of  Dr.  Judson. 


EFFORTS  ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  COLLIERS. 


297 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Efforts  on  Behalf  of  the  CoUiers — Baptism  and  Happy  Death  of  an 
Aged  Convert — Visits  the  Mines — Occurrences  there — Hindu  Legend 
— Sale  at  Calcutta  and  Missionary  Meeting,  and  Sale  at  Chinsurah — 
The  Swinging  Festival — ^Visits  the  Tillages — Opinions  of  the  Brah- 
muns — Affecting  Death  of  a  Pundit — Striking  Characteristics — Mr. 
Dicken  leaves — Inundation — Subjects  of  preaching — Tour — Letter  to 
Mr.  Hensman. 

1845—1846. 

In  February  1845,  the  overseer  of  the  coal-mines  visited 
Burdwan,  and  related  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht  a  remarkable  fact, 
on  which  he  based  an  earnest  request  for  a  school  to  be 
established  in  that  neighborhood.  "  Some  time  since,"  said 
he,  "  an  accident,  such  as  mines  are  subject  to,  occurred  on 
a  Sunday  ;  and  as  a  sad  loss  of  life  was  the  consequence,  the 
poor  miners  had  a  painful  remembrance  of  it.  A  few- 
months  subsequently  a  similar  occurrence  took  place,  also 
on  the  Sunday,  upon  which  these  poor  ignorant  people 
declared,  that  nothing  should  compel  them  to  work  again 
on  that  day,  which  the  God  their  masters  worshipped  had 
commanded  to  be  kept  holy.  They  said  He  was  angry  at 
the  breaking  of  His  command,  and  therefore  He  visited 
them  with  His  judgments."  What  a  reproof  to  nominal 
Christians  !  It  reminded  one  of  the  time,  when  the  Philis- 
tines feared  to  retain  the  ark  of  God  among  them,  and  sent 
13* 


298         MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

it  to  its  own  country,  with  an  offering.  "  These  poor  people 
keep  firm  to  their  resolution,"  said  the  gentleman ;  "  so  Sun- 
day is  a  day  of  rest  for  fourteen  hundred  colliers."  He 
added :  "  We  would  long  since  have  given  them  the  day,  but 
we  considered  it  an  injustice  to  deprive  them  of  the  seventh 
part  of  their  pay."  The  wisdom  of  man  is  often  foolish- 
ness with  God,  who  has  given  us  an  express  command  on 
the  point,  which  should  leave  us  in  no  doubt.  The  simple 
colliers  of  Rannegunge  showed,  by  their  own  spontaneous 
act,  that  they  could  afford  to  make  the  sacrifice  which  their 
employers  doubted.  "  I  recollect,"  remarks  Mr.  W.,  "  that 
I  preached  to  these  poor  colliers  six  years  ago,  on  a  Sunday 
evening,  as  they  were  coming  out  of  their  dark  holes,  and 
they  then  expressed  their  sorrow  that  no  day  of  rest  was 
allowed  them."  He  at  once  took  means  to  avail  himself 
of  this  new  opening,  by  establishing  a  school  there,  and 
placing  one  or  two  Christian  families  on  the  spot.  When 
the  colliers,  who  are  mostly  hill  people,  and  very  primitive 
in  their  ideas  and  habits,  found  that  the  Christian  woman 
who  accompanied  her  husband  could  read,  write,  sew,  and 
knit,  (she  had  been  brought  up  in  the  orphan  school,)  they 
regarded  her  as  a  sort  of  superior  being,  and  paid  her 
a  respect,  which  does  not  often  fall  to  the  lot  of  Bengali 
females. 

Following  the  narrative  of  the  journal,  we  come  to  a 
notice  of  a  pleasing,  cheering  character.  "  Last  Sunday," 
he  writes,  "  I  baptized  the  widow  of  Peter  Govind,  and  her 
father.  The  old  man,  who  was  about  eighty  years,  stood 
trembling  from  age,  with  folded  hands,  before  the  baptismal 
font,  and  repeated  abrupt  sentences  of  the  prayers  after  me, 
as  his  ears  caught  them.  In  reply  to  the  question,  '  Dost 
thou  renounce  the  devil  and  all  his  works  V  '  Oh !  yes,'  he 
said,  '  I  do  so  from  my  heart.'    I  was  quite  affected  by  the 


INTERESTING  BAPTISM. 


299 


evident  feeling  of  the  poor  old  man,  who  has  only  quite 
lately  had  his  mind  awakened  to  spiritual  things,  though  his 
elder  daughter  became  a  Christian  many  years  ago.  His 
daughter,  the  widow,  gave  me  much  satisfaction  by  her  in- 
telligent perception  of  Christian  truth,  and  her  ready 
answers  to  me,  when  I  spoke  to  her  in  private  before  her 
baptism.  She  has  a  clear  idea  of  Christ  as  the  Saviour,  and 
of  his  offices." 

These  two  individuals  formed  a  part  of  a  large  and  re- 
spectable family  of  Hindus,  who  had  been  brought  into  the 
fold  of  Christ  a  long  time  previously.  The  woman  was  the 
younger  wife  of  a  man  who  became  a  Christian ;  and  the 
missionaries  had  felt  the  difficulty,  in  this  case,  of  the  ques- 
tion that  sometimes  arises,  when  a  convert  has  been  the 
husband  of  two  or  three  wives  while  in  his  heathen  state. 
The  plan  advised  by  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  Peter  Govind  was, 
to  reside  in  the  Christian  village  with  his  elder  wife,  who 
had  several  sons,  and  to  show  them  every  kindness ;  and 
render  every  help  in  his  power  to  the  younger  one,  who 
should  continue  to  live  in  their  native  village.  She,  how- 
ever, came  in  occasionally  for  a  month  to  see  her  relatives  ; 
and,  after  the  husband's  death,  she  came  to  reside  as  domes- 
tic servant  with  one  of  the  native  Christian  families,  where 
she  received  much  kindness  and  regular  Christian  instruc- 
tion, which  led  her  to  desire  baptism  for  herself.  Her  con- 
versation and  that  of  the  elder  wife,  who  was  her  own  sister, 
had  been  blessed  to  the  aged  father  likewise,  and  the  result 
was  the  baptism  of  both,  as  above  related.  The  old  man's 
death  occurred  not  long  after.  He  departed  in  peace,  his 
eyes  having  seen  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.  He  expressed 
to  a  catechist,  who  was  praying  with  him  a  few  hours  before 
his  dissolution,  his  desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  say- 
ing, "  I  shall  not  die,  but  go  to  Jesus."  He  was  frequently 
over-heard  chanting  a  Bengali  hymn  in  his  lonely  hours, 


300         MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

which  appeared  to  give  him  much  comfort.  The  following 
is  a  literal  translation  of  it : 

"When  tliou  shalt  reach  the  river  of  death, 
Be  sure  to  enter  a  safe  boat ; 
If  Jesus  then  the  helmsman  be, 
Thou  wilt  reach  the  happy  shore." 

The  next  incident  of  interest  is  the  mention  of  the  arrival 
of  four  German  missionaries,  who  halted  a  few  days  at 
Burdwan  on  their  way  to  the  westward,  where  they  proposed 
to  establish  a  mission  among  the  Coles  in  Chota  Nagpore. 
They  were  sent  out  from  Berlin,  and  were  simple,  devoted 
men  of  God,  with  whom  it  was  truly  refreshing  to  hold 
brotherly  intercourse.  Dr.  Haberlin  had  accompanied 
them  from  Calcutta,  and  went  on  with  them  to  Bancoorah, 
where  he  introduced  them  to  Christian  friends,  who  gave 
them  a  house,  and  invited  them  to  sojourn  among  them  for 
some  months,  until  the  hot  and  rainy  seasons  were  over. 
Dr.  Haberlin  proceeded  to  Chota  Nagpore,  and  found  how 
gladly  they  would  be  encouraged  in  their  labors,  when  cir- 
cumstances permitted  them  to  go  forward  and  settle  there ; 
which  they  did  as  a  favorable  season  of  the  year  approached. 
They  have  continued  their  self-denying  exertions  in  that 
locality  ever  since  ;  and  though  they  have  suffered  many  a 
trial,  and  lost  many  a  fellow-laborer  by  death,  they  have 
added  fresh  ones  continually  from  home  ;  they  have  enjoyed 
a  rich  spiritual  blessing,  and  reaped  a  harvest  far  larger  in 
proportion  than  has  been  gathered  in,  by  many  of  higher 
pretensions  and  more  outward  show.  What  gives  this 
mission  a  peculiar  interest  is  the  fact,  that  it  is  the  only  one  to 
be  found  anywhere  in  that  direction,  and  the  only  one  that 
exists  for  the  benefit  of  the  hill  tribes  called  Coles. 

In  this,  and  all  efforts  made  by  others  for  extending  the 
work  that  lay  so  near  his  own  heart,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  took  a 


BURDWAN  COAL  MINES. 


301 


particular  interest ;  he  rejoiced  to  aid  it  by  every  means  in 
his  power,  and  to  watch  its  progress  and  hear  of  its  pros- 
perity. 

In  the  following  month,  we  find  him  on  a  tour  in  the 
direction  of  the  coal-mines.  There  are  some  pleasant  noti- 
ces in  his  journal  of  this  tour.  He  met  with  European 
travellers  in  one  of  the  bungalows  where  he  halted  ;  unbe- 
lieving men,  who  contended  that  the  Mohammedan  was  as 
much  in  the  right  concerning  his  religion,  as  the  Christian  ; 
and  that  it  was  uncharitable  and  selfish  in  the  latter  to  afiirm, 
when  conversing  with  a  Moslem,  that  his  own  religion  was 
the  only  true  one.  He  adds,  "  I  had  a  serious  conversation 
with  this  individual."  He  was  singularly  faithful  and  happy, 
in  availing  himself  of  such  casual  opportunities  of  speaking 
a  word  for  the  honor  of  the  Master  whom  he  served ;  and 
the  amount  of  good  arising  from  these  efibrts  will  never  be 
known,  till  the  thoughts  of  many  hearts  are  revealed.  He 
held  an  English  service,  the  Sunday  following,  with  the 
Europeans  and  Indo-Britons  about  the  place,  and  he  remarks  : 
"  This  is  probably  the  first  time  that  divine  service  has  been 
performed  in  this  colliery." 

He  found  the  working  of  the  mines  going  on,  in  a  much 
more  energetic  manner  than  in  former  years.  New  shafts 
had  been  sunk,  and  two  thousand  laborers  were  employed. 
These  extensive  mines  yield  excellent  coal,  which  is  used  for 
supplying  the  steamers  that  ply  on  the  Ganges.  At  that 
time,  and  even  until  now,  the  great  difficulty  connected  with 
these  works  was,  the  transmission  of  the  valuable  mineral 
to  Calcutta,  as  it  could  only  be  taken  down  in  boats  which 
came  up  the  Damudah ;  a  river  that  is  navigable  during 
four  months  only  of  the  year,  its  supply  of  water  depending 
entirely  on  the  fall  of  rain  in  the  hills  to  the  westward,  in 
Chota  Nagpore,  from  whence  it  derives  its  source,  so  that  it 
rises  and  falls  suddenly.    When  it  is  full,  it  is  most  rapid 


302  MEMOIR  OF  REV,  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  impetuous,  and  above  a  mile  in  width  from  bank  to 
bank.  A  railroad  is  now  in  process  of  completion  from 
Calcutta  towards  this  important  locality,  which  will,  it  is 
supposed,  much  enhance  the  value  of  these  mines. 

On  Sunday  evening  he  visited  the  village,  and  entered  into 
conversation  with  the  leading  men  of  the  place,  which  con- 
tinued with  pleasing  signs  of  encouragement,  till  a  sudden 
storm  broke  upon  them,  and  drove  them  home.  The  light- 
ning struck  the  ground  close  by  the  place  where  they  stood  ; 
for  the  country  is  full  of  ironstone  mixed  with  sulphur,  and 
thunder-storms  are  frequent  and  violent  in  the  locality. 
The  following  day  he  descended  into  the  mines,  by  a  stair- 
case of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  steps,  cut  in  the  soil. 
In  1831  he  had  been  let  down  in  a  coal-bucket,  so  he  felt 
there  was  progress  even  in  Bengal.*  The  stratum  of  earth 
near  the  surface  is  reddish  sandstone,  which  gradually  as- 
sumes a  grayish  color.  The  next  is  slate  and  shingle ;  and 
then  the  bed  of  coal,  eight  or  nine  feet  thick.  He  walked 
through  the  galleries,  and  saw  whole  families  engaged  in  the 
various  departments,  the  father  cutting  with  the  pick-axe,  the 
mother  and  children  engaged  in  the  lighter  work.  The  men 
earn  about  7s.  a  month  ;  women  and  boys,  4s. ;  labor  being 
wonderfully  cheap  in  these  Bengal  jungles.  Part  of  the  colliers 
are  children  of  the  soil,  but  the  larger  number  are  from  the 
hilly  regions,  and  are  called  Santals.  These  latter  are  a  simple, 
upright  people,  distinct  from  the  Hindu  of  the  plains  in  appear- 
ance, manners,  and  religion.  In  the  evening,  they  drove  to  the 
river-side  to  see  the  coal  ready  for  transmission.  It  loses 
much  of  its  valuable  properties  by  being  exposed  for  so 
long  a  time,  frequently  for  nine  months,  to  atmospheric  in- 
fluence. They  observed  a  rude  building,  intended  to  repre- 
sent a  temple  of  Kali,  close  by  the  water's  edge.  When 
there  is  little  rain,  the  colliers  petition  their  employers  for 


*  See  page  71. 


HINDU   IDEA  OF    THE  ORIGIN  OF  COAL.  303 

a  few  rupees  to  make  poojah  to  this  goddess,  "  which  peti- 
tion," remarks  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  is,  I  fear,  occasionally 
granted." 

He  then  describes  an  outbreak  of  cholera,  and  the  sad 
scenes  of  suffering  and  death  that  rapidly  ensued,  though 
medicine  was  freely  supplied ;  and  he  afterwards  details  the 
particulars  of  an  awful  catastrophe  which  happened  two 
years  before.  Some  parts  of  the  mines  contain  sulphate  of 
iron,  which  ignites  from  pressure  and  damp.  Smoke  being 
observed  to  issue  from  the  lower  galleries,  the  people  all 
removed,  and  a  man  reported  that  the  mines  had  taken 
fire.  The  shaft  near  was  immediately  filled  with  rubbish, 
which  was  all  that  could  be  done ;  and  they  waited  the 
result  of  the  subterranean  burning.  The  following  day  a 
fearful  noise  was  heard  below  the  ground ;  and,  in  the  even 
ing,  the  flame  burst  forth  from  another  shaft,  ascending  in 
the  shape  of  a  column  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high  ;  while 
the  atmospheric  air,  rushing  in  through  the  other  shafts, 
communicated  the  fire  to  the  difierent  parts,  and  caused  a 
general  conflagration  throughout  the  mines.  It  was  a  mag- 
nificent sight,  and  visible  from  a  great  distance  ;  but  it  was 
most  alarming.  The  only  chance  of  smothering  it  was  to 
persevere  in  filling  up  the  shafts,  which  which  was  done  by 
the  people  approaching  with  the  rubbish  from  the  weather 
side.  What  caused  the  greatest  consternation  was  the  sink- 
ing down  of  the  surface  of  the  ground  several  hundred  feet 
in  extent,  arising  from  the  falling  in  of  the  galleries  below. 
This  produced  a  shaking  similar  to  that  felt  at  the  time  of 
an  earthquake.  The  overseer's  house  was  split  so  fearfully, 
that  it  was  expected  to  fall,  and  all  the  furniture  was  removed 
from  it. 

An  intelligent  Hindu  inquired  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  if  he 
could  account  for  the  origin  of  coal.  He  told  him  that  the 
commonly  received  opinion  was,  that  the  strata  of  coal  had 


304         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITB^IECHT. 

been  originally  large  forests,  which  some  great  convulsion  of 
nature  had  buried  in  the  earth.  "  Our  people,"  he  replied 
"  ascribe  it  to  quite  another  cause.  They  say,  these  coals 
are  the  remains  of  horses  ;  as  many  as  five  hundred  thousand 
of  which  were  frequently  sacrificed  to  the  gods,  by  the  kings 
of  ancient  times.  The  tar  in  the  coal  arises  from  the  clari- 
fied butter,  (ghee,)  which  was  poured  upon  the  sacrificial 
fire.  Such  is  the  philosophy  of  the  Hindu  Shasters !"  Mr. 
W.  suggested  a  serious  objection  to  this  idea,  namely,  that 
"  in  England  and  other  lands,  where  no  kings  of  Hindustan 
existed,  and  no  sacrificial  rites  connected  with  Hinduism 
were  performed,  large  beds  of  coal  were  found." 

The  journey  home  was  a  trying  one,  and  the  heat  now 
rapidly  increased,  so  that  the  three  sermons  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
preached  on  Sundays  exhausted  him  much  ;  but  he  enjoyed 
remarkably  good  health  during  the  first  two  years  after  his 
return  to  India ;  and  his  zeal  could  not  be  restrained  within 
the  bounds  of  prudence.  He  would  return  from  the  morn- 
ing Bengali  service,  take  a  slight  refreshment  standing  in 
the  hall,  and  then  proceed  at  once  to  the  English  service. 
It  was,  indeed,  his  meat  and  drink  to  do  his  heavenly  Fath- 
er's will. 

We  will  again  condense  a  few  paragraphs  from  the  jour- 
nal : 

"  2Sd. — I  performed  divine  service  in  Bengali  ;  but  felt 
dry  and  depressed  in  the  morning.  I  cried  much  to  the 
Lord,  and  He  heard  me,  and  I  received  such  a  manifestation 
of  the  glory  of  Jesus  the  risen  Saviour  to  my  soul,  that  I 
felt  quite  overwhelmed,  and  gave  vent  to  my  feelings  in  a 
flood  of  tears.  These  words,  '  Then  were  the  disciples  glad 
when  they  saw  the  Lord,'  went  to  my  heart.  How  great 
must  have  been  their  joy,  after  the  night  of  sorrow  !  I  too 
could  rejoice  as  if  seeing  Him  ;  but  what  will  it  be  in  the 
great  day  of  revelation,  when  we  shall  behold  Him  in 


FEARFUL  STORM. 


305 


reality  !  I  preached  on  the  subject  that  occupied  my  mind, 
with  much  openness  of  heart. 

"  April  1. — ^The  Rajah  of  Burdwan  called  this  morning. 
He  was  at  once  attracted  by  the  sound  of  voices,  for  the 
children  were  at  morning  worship.  I  took  him  into  the 
room  where  the  girls  were  singing  the  morning  hymn. 
*  This  is  very  nice,'  said  he,  and  he  continued  to  listen  with 
attention,  while  Kripa,  the  schoolmistress,  read  the  chapter 
and  offered  prayer.  Oh !  that  he  might  catch  some  spark  of 
light !  I  inquired  after  his  little  girl,  now  four  years  old, 
whose  mother  had  died  after  her  birth,  and  reminded  him  of 
his  promise,  that  he  would  ask  Mrs.  W.  to  procure  a  gov- 
erness for  her,  when  she  was  old  enough.  He  replied  :  '  The 
child  is  with  my  mother,  who  will  allow  no  such  thing.  She 
comes  out  very  seldom,  being  already  shut  up  in  the  Zena- 
nah.'    Thus  it  is  with  wealthy  and  influential  Hindus. 

"  4:th. — My  wife  is  absent  in  Calcutta,  for  the  purpose  of 
disposing  of  the  articles  she  brought  out  for  sale.  Her 
journey  down  was  very  perilous,  being  made  during  a  dread- 
ful storm,  and  I  felt  anxious  till  I  heard  of  her  safety.  It 
appears  she  was  in  a  boat  on  the  river,  without  food  or 
drink,  from  eight  a.m.  till  night.  The  heat  was  intense,  and 
the  wind  right  ahead,  so  that  the  boatmen  made  little  pro- 
gress, even  with  the  tide.  She  had  calculated  on  reaching 
Calcutta  by  two  p.m.  at  latest ;  but  at  that  hour  she  was  but 
half-way  ;  and  by  three,  dense  clouds  had  gathered  around, 
and  it  became  quite  dark.  The  boatman  told  her  they 
were  in  imminent  peril,  for  a  fearful  north-wester  was  about 
to  blow.  He  proposed  to  run  the  boat  into  a  neighboring 
creek,  which  would  afford  a  measure  of  shelter,  and,  he  hoped, 
of  safety.  She  begged  him  to  do  so  without  delay ;  and 
they  were  scarcely  there  before  the  storm  burst  forth  in  all 
its  fury.  She  described  it  as  a  most  solemn  and  awful  hour, 
during  which  the  sweet  sense  of  Christ's  nearness  and  power 


306  MEMOIR  OF   REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

soothed  her  fears,  and  sustained  her  spirit.  She  sat  native 
fashion,  crouched  up  in  the  only  dry  corner  of  the  little 
cabin,  while  the  poor  oarsmen  crowded  in,  shivering  with 
the  change  from  intense  heat  to  quite  a  cold  blast.  The  light- 
ning was  their  only  illumination  ;  for  it  was  as  dark  as 
night  while  the  violence  of  the  storm  continued.  After  it 
was  over,  the  men  went  on  languidly,  and  finally  proposed 
to  stop  and  cook  themselves  a  meal  on  the  river  bank.  As 
it  was  useless  to  resist  this,  and  would  really  have  been  cruel, 
for  it  was  then  sunset,  she  asked  them  how  they  would  pro- 
vide for  her  refreshment.  The  boatman  undertook  to  intro- 
duce her  to  a  European  family,  occupying  a  house  on  the 
opposite  bank,  and  he  went  there  himself  to  detail  the  story. 
The  gentleman  of  the  house  came  immediately  to  the  boat, 
and  offered  every  accommodation  needed.  Tea  was  provid- 
ed for  the  weary  traveller  by  the  friendly  lady  of  the  man- 
sion, and  the  offer  of  a  convoy  if  she  would  take  a  bed,  and 
wait  till  the  morning.  This  she  declined  ;  but  upon  earnest 
solicitations,  she  consented  to  sleep  in  the  house  till  two 
A.M.,  when  the  boatman  engaged  to  summon  her  to  proceed 
with  the  tide.  She  was  told  that  the  thermometer  in  their 
verandah  had  fallen  from  100^  to  60°  during  the  storm.  On 
reaching  Calcutta  at  six  a.m.  she  could  find  no  palanquins  ; 
and  fearing  her  friends,  who  had  expected  her  the  night  be- 
fore, would  be  very  anxious,  she  undertook  to  walk  under 
the  guidance  of  the  boatman.  He,  however,  led  her  quite 
wrong,  and  at  length,  when  the  sun  began  to  shine  forth 
powerfully,  her  only  resource  was  to  stop  a  gentleman  re- 
turning from  his  morning  drive,  and  beg  him  to  assist  her. 
He  proved  to  be  a  well-known  friend,  and  at  once  recognized 
her,  to  her  great  relief  He  drove  her  to  her  destination, 
where  she  found  her  friends  in  a  state  of  great  alarm ;  seve- 
ral deaths  by  upsetting  of  boats  having  been  reported  to 
them,  so  that  they  had  become  painfully  apprehensive  for 


SWINGING  FESTIVAL. 


307 


her  safety.  Thus  we  have  again  experienced  the  Lord's  pre- 
serving mercy.  The  sale  went  off  very  well,  and  I  met  my 
dear  wife  in  safety,  on  her  return,  at  this  place,  (Chinsurah,) 
where  I  have  come  at  the  request  of  the  Calcutta  Committee, 
to  preach  a  missionary  sermon  in  the  church  on  behalf  of 
the  Society. 

"  1th. — We  collected  about  100  rupees  yesterday,  which 
being  rather  a  small  amount,  I  followed  up  the  sermon  this 
evening  by  a  missionary  meeting,  held  in  the  dining-hall  of 
Mr.  R.,  the  judge  of  the  station,  with  whom  we  are  stopping. 
I  spoke  for  an  hour  to  attentive  hearers,  and  the  blessed 
effect  of  the  little  meeting  on  the  minds  of  some  individuals 
present  was  manifested  in  the  deep  interest  expressed  by 
them  in  our  work,  and  in  spiritual  subjects  generally.  This 
was  a  great  encouragement  to  me.  M.  had  a  sale  the  next 
day,  of  her  remaining  articles,  at  the  chaplain's  house.  He 
and  his  wife  showed  us  much  affection  and  brotherly  kind- 
ness. Many  more  things  were  disposed  of,  the  impression 
of  the  meeting  being  still  lively  and  warm.  I  went  to  Se- 
rampore  to  visit  Dr.  Haberlin,  and  was  witness  to  a  fearful 
sight  on  the  river.  A  boat  full  of  people  foundered  ;  three 
men  were  standing  on  the  stern,  which  was  still  above  water, 
and  thus  they  floated  up  the  stream  with  the  tide.  These 
poor  fellows  were  the  owners  of  the  boat,  and  clung  to  the 
wreck  to  save  the  boards,  being  expert  swimmers,  no  doubt. 

"  Wth, — We  met  the  horrid  swinging  festival  on  our  re- 
turn to  Burdwan,  and  I  took  Reynolds  and  Geidt  out  to 
witness  it ;  for  a  missionary  should  do  so  for  once.  I  en- 
treated the  people  to  desist  from  so  horrid  and  unnatural  a 
practice.  '  Our  forefathers  did  so,'  said  they.  '  Yes,  but  God  is 
dishonored  thereby,'  I  replied, '  and  you  increase  your  guilt.' 
As  the  tree  was  being  raised  by  the  exertions  of  the  people, 
it  slipped  from  their  hold  and  fell.  The  bamboo  that  was 
tied  across  it  knocked  down  a  little  boy,  and  I  thought  it 


308  MEMOIR  UF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

must  have  killed  him  ;  but  he  was  only  slightly  hurt,  and 
went  on  dancing,  My  entreaties  to  them  to  desist  were 
all  in  vain,  and  the  tree  was  raised,  and  made  firm  by  a  wall 
of  clay  fixed  around  its  base.  The  intending  performer 
lay  on  the  ground.  One  person  raised  up  the  skin  of  the 
back  beneath  the  shoulder-blade,  another  thrust  the  hooks 
through  it,  and  a  few  minutes  after  the  poor  wretch  was 
seen  whirling  through  the  air !  The  deluded  creatures  re- 
ceive a  reward  from  some  rich  men  for  their  pains.  Some 
means  are  used  for  deadening  the  nervous  sensibility  of  the 
frame  ;  and  those  who  swing  frequently,  and  get  in  a  man- 
ner used  to  it,  say  the  suffering  is  not  so  great  as  one  would 
imagine." 

The  next  entry  in  the  journal  is  a  very  interesting  one, 
in  reference  to  those  people  who  seemed  so  intent  on  em 
bracing  Christianity. 

"  11  th. — Six  fathers  of  families  appear  to  have  decided 
for  Christ.  They  have  come  in  very  regularly  to  service, 
every  Sunday,  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  I  wish  to  become 
better  acquainted  with  their  private  characters  and  circum- 
stances, and  went  out  for  a  day  or  two  to  Berui.  The  heat 
is  fearful,  the  wind  blowing  flames.  At  sunset  we  preached, 
with  acceptance,  to  the  heathen.  On  visiting  the  dwellings 
of  the  inquirers,  I  ascertained  that  a  knot  of  families,  related 
to  each  other,  seem  all  of  one  mind,  and  when  the  sun  was 
down,  they  assembled  before  the  cottage  of  one  who  was  a 
weaver.  The  moon  shone  so  brightly  that  my  catechist, 
Boishtom,  read  a  chapter  out  of  the  Bengali  Gospel  by  its 
light.  I  expounded  the  words  of  our  Lord,  '  I  am  the  door,' 
etc.  Oh  !  how  my  heart  yearned  over  these  poor  people  ! 
How  I  longed  to  lead  them  all  to  so  good  a  Friend  as  Jesus ! 
As  I  proceeded,  the  group  around  me  increased  to  some 
twenty  persons  and  a  few  women,  who  listened  attentively. 
When  I  had  done,  the  children  closed  round  me,  and  I  gavp 


INDOLENCE  OF  THE   BRAHMUNS.  309 

them  some  trifling  presents.  The  candidates  are  simple 
peasants,  who  would  encounter  less  difficulty  in  giving  up 
caste  than  their  more  high-born  neighbors.  I  slept  in  my  palan- 
quin in  an  open  shed.  It  was  swarming  with  ants,  and  I 
was  woefully  bitten.  I  was  awoke  at  day-break  by  the  sing- 
ing of  birds,  and  walked  to  a  neighboring  village,  where  I 
preached  to  willing  hearers  under  a  well-known  banian  tree. 
I  could  not  succeed  in  obtaining  an  interview  with  the  head 
man  of  the  place,  whom  I  wished  to  see.  These  Hindu 
gentlemen  occupy  two  or  three  hours  in  the  morning,  with 
their  accustomed  bathing  and  poojah,  and  are  often  too  dig- 
nified to  allow  themselves  to  be  disturbed.  They  take  work 
easily ;  and  if  you  were  to  ask  a  Brahmun  in  the  evening 
what  he  had  done  during  the  day,  he  would  find  it  difficult 
to  tell,  were  it  not  for  his  readiness  to  imagine  facts,  and  to 
exaggerate  the  moving  of  a  limb  into  a  serious  engage- 
ment." 

The  foregoing  extracts  are  a  practical  comment  on  some 
remarks,  made  by  a  friend  residing  in  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
family  this  year,  which  convey  an  idea  of  the  impression 
made  on  the  minds  of  those  immediately  about  him,  by  his 
daily  labors  and  conversation. 

"  I  frequently  observe,"  she  writes,  "  not  only  the  hope- 
fulness with  which  he  labors,  but  the  buoyancy  and  elasticity 
of  his  hopefulness.  No  doubt  he  often  feels  depressed  at 
the  apparent  fruitlessness  of  his  most  strenuous  efforts,  and 
in  his  inmost  spirit  can  say  : 

*  Lord,  in  Thy  field  I  work  all  day — 
I  read,  I  teach,  I  warn,  I  pray ; 
And  yet  those  willful,  wandering  sheep, 
"Within  Thy  fold  I  can  not  keep.' 

'  I  journey,  yet  no  step  is  won.' 
But  such  depression  is  never  apparent;  the  strong  spring  of 


310  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

hope  not  only  keeps  him  up  to  his  work,  but  he  seems  to 
delight  in  it,  even  when  least  apparently  successful.  No 
doubt  this  is  partly  the  result  of  a  fine  natural  temperament ; 
but  this  alone  could  not  support  him  through  a  life  of  such 
unwearied  energy  and  devotedness.  The  source  of  it  must 
be  mainly  sought  for,  in  the  simple  faith  with  which  he  obeys 
God's  commands,  and  trusts  His  promises.  This  makes  him 
ever  ready  to  attend  the  calls  of  duty,  ready  also  to  leave  the 
result  in  God's  hands,  and  to  be  satisfied  with  that  result." 

In  a  letter  of  April  to  the  Rev.  C.  I.  Yorke,  he  thus  refers 
to  one  principal  cause  of  the  misery  of  India  :  "  The  Brah- 
muns  fleece  the  people  unmercifully,  and  what  they  exact 
from  them,  on  various  pretenses,  far  exceeds  all  the  sums 
which  they  pay  in  ground-rent,  etc.  All  mental  and  moral 
improvement  is  obstructed  by  them,  and  the  poor  Hindus 
are  groaning  under  a  fearful  load  of  moral  and  physical  mis- 
ery. When  will  their  year  of  deliverance  come?  'Watch- 
man, what  of  the  night  V  I  believe  there  are  now  nearly 
two  hundred  missionaries  in  this  immense  empire;  but,  as  a 
brother-missionary  lately  said  at  a  meeting,  '  We  have 
hardly  scratched  the  surface  of  the  ground  yet.'  At  least, 
this  is  the  appearance  of  things  before  our  eyes.  Still,  I  do 
believe  there  is  a  gradual  onward  movement.  I  heard  the 
other  day  that  three  thousand  Hindu  youths  are  receiving 
instruction  in  English  schools,  in  a  radius  of  twelve  miles 
round  Chinsurah.  This  must  tell  among  the  people  at 
large." 

The  following  anecdote  affords  a  lively  illustration  of 
Hindu  character  ;  "I  went  with  a  fine-looking,  sensible,  and 
good-natured  Brahmun  to  visit  his  taluk,  (estate.)  One  of 
his  tenants  made  his  obeisance  to  him,  and  pleaded  for 
mercy,  saying:  'Do  not  crush  me.  I  am  lying  at  your 
feet.'  It  appeared  he  was  60  rupees  in  arrears,  and  his 
landlord  insisted  on  his  paying  half  the  sum,  well  knowing 


THE  DYING  BRAHMUN. 


311 


that  he  had  it  m  his  cloth.  He  took  out  12  rupees  and 
offered  them,  solemnly  declaring  he  had  no  more,  until  the 
talukdar  manifested  some  signs  of  impatience,  when  the 
desired  sum  was  at  length  produced,  actually  squeezed  out ; 
for  such  is  the  covetous  nature  of  a  Bengali  that  he  will  not 
pay,  until  really  compelled. 

"  In  the  evening  I  assembled  the  candidates,  and  once  more 
exhorted  them  to  be  firm,  and  to  look  to  Jesus  the  Captain 
of  our  salvation.  I  can  but  hope,  that  an  extensive  work  of 
the  Lord  has  begun  among  these  poor  people." 

Few  Christians  will  read  the  affecting  little  history,  con- 
tained in  the  next  extract,  with  hearts  untouched  : 

"  2bth. — Mr.  Reynolds  went  with  me  to  visit  Kartik  Pundit, 
an  old  teacher,  who  had  instructed  all  the  Burdwan  mission- 
aries. We  found  him  lying  in  the  verandah  of  his  cottage. 
He  looked  emaciated,  and  his  countenance  bespoke  pain  and 
distress.  I  said:  'Well,  Kartik,  have  you  comfort  and  peace 
in  your  soul  V  '  I  feel  comfort,  sir,'  replied  he,  '  in  seeing 
you.'  I  continued:  '  These  are  serious  moments,  when  sick- 
ness overwhelms  us,  and  death  approaches.  Hinduism  will 
not  do  now.  Shiva  can  not  save  you.  Kali  is  of  no  avail. 
Look  then,  oh !  look  to  Jesus !  He  died  for  our  sins.  You 
may  be  saved  by  Him.'  He  made  no  attempt  to  defend 
his  false  faith ;  and  when  we  left  he  entreated  me  to  pray 
for  him.  This  was  more  than  I  expected,  and  I  saw  there 
was  a  hard  struggle  in  the  mind  of  the  dying  Brahmun.  He 
knew  the  New  Testament  well,  and  I  have  passed  many  an 
hour  in  religious  conversation  with  him.  He  was  intelligent, 
sensible,  amiable,  sometimes  even  tender.  He  especially 
admired  the  writings  of  St.  Paul,  his  clear  elucidation  of 
doctrine,  powerful  reasoning,  and  heart-searching  descriptions 
of  the  depravity  of  man.  He  once  said  to  Mr.  Lincke,  when 
he  was  earnest  with  him  to  receive  the  truth,  '  Sir,  I  know 
YOURS  is  the  true  religion,  and  I  know  I  must  perish.'  God 


312         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

forbid !  yet  when  light  has  been  so  resisted,  one  hardly  dares 
to  hope  much.  Two  days  after  our  visit,  his  spirit  returned 
to  its  Maker.  He  will  now  see  the  reality  of  eternal  things, 
according  to  the  Scripture.  His  eldest  son  came  to  bring 
me  the  sad  news,  and  said  with  faltering  voice :  '  O  sir  !  my 
father  is  gone  to  another  world.'  Alas  !  no  prospect  of  the 
Father's  house,  with  its  many  happy  mansions,  sweetens  the 
saddest  bereavement  to  the  deluded  Hindu.  O  Lord ! 
visit  these  poor  people  with  Thy  salvation !" 

The  following  letter  contains  many  interesting  refer- 
ences : 

''June  27,  1845. 
"My  Dear  Friend  :  Your  letter  was  indeed  good  news  from 
a  far  country ;  and,  after  perusing  it,  I  said,  you  certainly 
shall  have  some  lines  from  me  likewise.  How  delightful  to 
hear  the  satisfactory  accounts  you  give  us  of  our  dear  child ! 
I  trust  it  will  greatly  strengthen  our  faith  in  our  Heaven- 
ly Father,  as  it  has  filled  our  hearts  with  gratitude.  It  is  to 
me  such  a  decided  assurance,  that  He  is  a  prayer-hearing 
God.  O  dear  friend !  we  often  remember  you  before  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  my  mind  dwells  with  peculiar  pleasure, 
on  the  short  but  pleasant  intercourse  we  had  with  each  other, 
during  my  visit  to  Clifton  last  year  :  I  intended  to  write  a 
letter,  to  encourage  and  animate  our  friends  at  their  anniver- 
sary in  Victoria  Hall,  but  my  time  would  not  allow  it. 
We  have  been  very  busy  since  our  return,  and  we  feel  that 
if  the  Lord  were  not  our  sun  and  shield,  our  light  and  sal- 
vation— if  we  could  not  daily  and  hourly  realize  His  presence, 
we  should  find  it  a  hard  task,  and  sometimes  an  impos- 
sibility to  labor  in  this  heathen  land ;  for  a  heathen  land 
Bengal  still  is,  to  this  very  day,  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the 
word,  notwithstanding  its  numerous  schools,  and  thousands 
of  converts.  But  we  are  laboring  in  hope,  firmly  relying  on 
the  precious  promises  of  Jesus.    I  wish  you  could  have  seen 


A  SUTTEE. 


313 


me  this  morning,  preaching  under  a  large  Indian  fig-tree  in 
a  neighboring  market  town,  and  have  witnessed  the  attention 
of  the  crowd.  You  would  then  have  said,  this  can  not  be  in 
vain.  It  is  a  satisfaction  to  me  to  observe  that  every  Hindu 
is  unhappy,  and  feels  the  need  of  something  better  than  he 
possesses ;  so  that  whether  our  success  be  little  or  great,  we 
need  not  despond ;  for  if  we  fail  to  reap  a  full  harvest  now, 
we  shall  do  so  hereafter,  when  '  he  that  soweth  bountifully 
shall  reap  also  bountifully.' 

"A  little  Hindu  orphan  boy  died  the  other  day,  and  just 
before  his  spirit  departed,  he  prayed  very  earnestly,  calling 
on  the  Lord  Jesus  to  receive  his  spirit:  another  boy,  of 
fourteen,  died  a  few  weeks  before  him,  of  consumption,  who 
had  been  a  well-behaved  and  exemplary  lad.  As  I  sat  by 
his  dying  bed,  the  day  before  he  expired,  he  expressed  his 
firm  faith  and  reliance  on  his  Saviour ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
he  is  now  happy  with  Him,  free  from  pain,  sorrow,  and  sin. 
But  there  are  some  boys  and  girls,  among  those  who  remain, 
who  cause  us  much  anxiety  and  trouble.  Here,  as  in  Eng- 
land, the  best  are  frequently  removed  early  ;  and  who  can 
regret  it  1 — though  we  often  feel  their  loss  deeply,  thinking 
they  might  have  been  useful  to  their  benighted  fellow-crea- 
tures. Many  youthful  Hindus,  who  have  learned  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  J esus,  say  they  can  not  give  up  their  idolatry  while 
their  parents  live,  because  they  love  them  so  very  much, 
and  would  not  like  to  grieve  them.  Will  some  of  your 
dear  girls,  who  love  to  read  the  Bible,  show  you  some  pas- 
sages from  it  to  prove,  that  these  poor  youths  are  sadly 
mistaken  ? 

"A  short  time  after  our  arrival,  a  suttee  was  performed  in 
a  village  near  Burdwan,  almost  under  the  eye  of  our  civil 
authorities,  yet  the  murderers  could  not  be  found  out ;  for 
though  the  Hindus  are  hateful,  and  hating  each  other,  yet 
in  doing  wicked  and  horrid  things  with  great  secresy,  they 
will  hardly  find  their  equals  in  this  evil  world.  Pray  tell 
14 


314  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


my  dear  Emily  that  I  love  her  very  much,  though  absent ; 
and  if  I  hear  that  she  often  prays  for  her  papa,  and  the 
heathen  among  whom  he  labors,  it  will  rejoice  my  heart.  I 
long  to  see  her  given  up  to  her  dear  Saviour,  because  she 
will  then  be  really  safe  and  happy. 

"And  now,  in  conclusion,  I  will  shake  out  of  my  pocket  a 
goodly  quantity  of  kind  regards  and  loves,  and  other  nice 
things,  such  as  good  wishes,  etc.,  to  all  dear  friends  who  re- 
member me,  and  help  and  love  my  child.  The  Lord  bless 
and  prosper  you,  my  dear  friend. — Yours  in  sincere  affection 
and  gratitude,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  time  was  now  returned  for  the  second  assembling  of 
the  missionary  conference,  and  eight  brethren  met  atBurdwan. 
"  We  look  for  an  abundant  blessing  from  the  Lord,"  writes 
Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "upon  our  gathering  together  in  His  name." 
He  afterwards  adds :  "  We  sat  in  conference  three  days,  and 
how  shall  I  express  my  gratitude  for  the  blessings  of  union 
and  brotherly  fellowship !  The  Lord  was  indeed  with  us. 
The  resolution  respecting  the  Roman  Catholic  missionaries 
having  entered  the  Krishnaghur  mission  was  very  affecting  : 
it  concluded  thus :  '  That  we  received  this  news  with  the 
deepest  sorrow,  and  determined  to  make  this  sad  fact  a 
matter  of  special  and  united  prayer,  and  the  most  vigilant 
watchfulness  over  those  congregations  more  immediately  in 
danger  of  being  carried  away.'  " 

The  journal  alludes  to  some  cheering  news,  brought  by 
the  Calcutta  brethren,  of  the  formation  of  a  Temporal  Aid 
Society  for  relieving  distressed  native  Christians,  which  had 
been  called  into  life  by  the  spontaneous  efforts  of  a  few 
young  Hindu  teachers,  belonging  to  all  Protestant  denom- 
inations. The  secretary  was  an  excellent  young  man  con- 
nected with  the  Free  Church.  Mr.  Blumhardt  addressed  his 
brethren  at  the  conclusion  of  the  conference,  and  they  united 
together  in  celebrating  the  Lord's  Supper.    "  Soon  after 


TERRIBLE  INUNDATION. 


315 


this,"  writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  we  parted  with  our  amiable 
friend  Mr.  Dicken,  who  was  married  from  our  house  to  Mrs. 
Weitbrecht's  sister,  and  went  to  fill  an  important  sphere  of 
usefulness  at  Agra.  Mr.  John  Marshman  of  Serampore  had 
made  him  a  most  generous  offer,  to  go  and  fill  a  sphere 
there,  made  vacant  by  the  removal  of  Mr.  Mack,  with  which 
his  being  a  clergyman  of  the  English  Church  would  not  at 
all  have  interfered  ;  but  he  thought  the  providence  of  God 
pointed  to  Agra,  and  I  can  hardly  doubt  he  will  labor  with 
blessing.  We  shall  miss  our  dear  sister  very  much  :  she 
has  been  of  essential  service  to  us  all  this  year."  ' 

He  goes  on  to  relate  a  singular  anecdote  of  a  shopkeeper, 
who  had  come  to  him  from  a  neighboring  town  with  a  tract, 
to  obtain  an  explanation  of  several  passages.  He  said  he 
had  been  reading  the  tract  the  night  before,  and  had  fallen 
asleep  over  it,  and  saw  in  his  dream  a  person,  who  said  to 
him,  "  Go  to  the  missionary,  who  will  tell  you  all  these 
things."  He  accordingly  came,  and  listened  most  attentive- 
ly, for  more  than  an  hour,  to  the  explanation  given.  "  It 
reminds  me,"  said  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  of  Acts  10  :  5."  The 
Lord  has  various  ways  of  bringing  people  to  himself. 

The  chief  event  that  occurred  in  August  was  a  terrible  in- 
undation. The  report  of  the  coming  flood  was  made  at 
twelve,  and  by  five  in  the  evening  the  whole  country  aroimd 
was  one  sheet  of  water  ;  and  a  stream  rushed  along  the  high 
road  past  the  mission  premises.  All  the  people  were  set  to 
work ;  and  preparations  were  made  to  secure  such  things 
as  were  liable  to  be  carried  ofl"  by  the  flood.  The  entrances 
to  the  compound  were  closed,  by  raising  embankments  of 
earth  across  them,  and  the  poor  native  Christians  expressed 
the  utmost  gratitude,  that  Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  been  so 
prompt  and  diligent  on  his  return,  in  repairing  the  strong 
embankment  of  earth,  which  he  had  erected  after  the  severe 
flood  in  1834,  all  round  the  extensive  grounds  of  the  mission. 
"  But  for  this,"  said  they,  "  all  our  dwellings  would  have 


316         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

been  washed  away;  whereas  now  not  a  drop  of  water  enters 
the  premises,  except  such  as  oozes  in  from  below."  The 
water  increased  till  midnight,  rolling  across  the  rice  fields, 
and  carrying  sad  destruction  before  it.  Stories  of  distress 
from  loss  of  life,  falling  of  houses,  etc.,  were  continually 
heard,  while  the  favored  inhabitants  of  the  mission-compound 
felt  themselves  in  the  happy  position  of  Noah  and  his  family 
in  the  ark.  This  inundation  was  very  extensive ;  fourteen 
hundred  feet  of  embankment  were  destroyed,  and  the  country 
was  much  damaged.  Some  of  the  Christians  were  sent  to 
look  out  for  the  sufferers  ;  and  one  particularly  nice  family 
were  induced  to  take  refuge  with  those,  who  had  often  be- 
fore, on  more  spiritual  grounds,  and  on  this  occasion  could 
well  adopt  literally  the  language  of  the  poet : 

*  We  are  a  garden  walled  around, 
Chosen  and  made  peculiar  ground — 
A  little  spot  inclosed  by  grace 
Out  of  the  world's  wide  wilderness.'  " 

The  whole  of  this  family,  including  a  father,  mother,  and 
four  children,  were  instructed,  and  in  due  time  baptized,  and 
have  ever  since  continued  satisfactory  converts.  A  visitor 
in  the  mission-house,  referring  to  what  she  noticed  during 
this  period,  says:  "The  facility  with  which  Mr.  W.,  to  use 
a  homely  phrase,  '  can  turn  his  hand  to  any  thing,'  is  most 
remarkable,  and  seems  to  me  a  very  valuable  quality  in  the 
position,  which  many  missionaries  occupy  in  India.  Eng- 
lish and  Bengali  schools,  itinerating,  preaching,  translating, 
attending  to  the  secular  concerns  of  the  mission,  overlook- 
ing the  domestic  and  other  arrangements  of  the  native 
Christians,  building,  correspondence  ;  his  duties  are  indeed 
various,  yet  nothing  is  neglected.  Even  the  presence  of 
visitors,  which  from  peculiar  circumstances  is  so  frequent 
with  you,  never  interferes  with  his  routine  of  duty." 


DR.  CAREY  S  ENCOURAGEMENT. 


317 


It  may  interest  the  reader  to  transcribe  a  concise  sample 
of  two  days'  running  engagements,  inserted  in  the  journal 
of  this  date :  "  Henry  comes  to  my  bed  before  six,  and, 
pulling  my  toes,  says  :  '  Papa,  get  up  ;  put  on  your  shoes.' 
His  mamma  is  rather  overdone  with  all  the  laborious  and 
exciting  events  of  this  year,  so  the  little  fellow  spares  her, 
and  gets  me  to  go  out  and  feed  him  with  bread  and  milk, 
while  I  take  my  early  tea.  At  seven  I  sowed  vegetable  seed. 
Then  came  in  and  wrote  three  letters,  bathed  and  prepared 
for  breakfast.  Family  prayer.  From  ten  to  three  in  the 
English  school.  Very  tired.  Took  accounts  till  dinner  at 
four.  Sent  a  person  round  to  the  residents,  to  collect  in  the 
various  subscriptions.  Captain  A.  came  at  sunset,  and 
helped  me  to  examine  the  walls  and  roof  of  the  old  mission- 
house,  which  is  to  be  repaired.  After  tea  wi'ote  up  my 
journal.  Following  day  sent  off  a  sick  widow  to  Bancoorah, 
for  change  of  air  and  medical  treatment.  Pruned  trees. 
Made  up  medicines  for  the  sick.  Wrote  three  important 
public  letters.  English  school,  weekly  service,  and  lecture 
to  the  native  Christians.  Sowed  seeds  in  the  garden.  Took 
my  wife  out  a  little  to  refresh  her.  After  tea  wrote  letters 
to  English  friends." 

"  I  have  been  struck  with  the  following  remarks  of  Dr. 
Carey,  given  by  him  to  a  young  missionary :  '  My  dear 
brother,  remember  these  three  things,  first,  that  it  is  your 
duty  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature  ;  second,  that 
God  has  declared  that  His  Word  shall  accomplish  that  for 
which  it  is  sent ;  thirdly,  that  when  he  pleases.  He  can  as 
easily  remove  the  present  formidable  obstacles,  as  we  can 
move  the  smallest  particle  of  dust.  Be  not  discouraged, 
but  look  to  the  great  recompense  of  reward.'  "  The  young 
brother  to  whom  this  valuable  counsel  was  given,  Mr.  Lacey 
of  Cuttack,  entered  into  rest  about  the  same  time  as  Mr. 
Weitbrecht, 


318         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

A  few  days  after  this,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  set  out  on  a  mis- 
sion tour,  and  met  as  usual  with  many  pleasing  and  pain- 
ful incidents.  At  one  village  which  he  had  often  visited  in 
former  years,  he  told  the  people,  after  he  had  addressed 
them,  that  while  sailing  on  the  deep,  as  he  was  returning 
from  Europe,  he  had  often  thought  of  them  and  prayed  for 
them,  desiring  to  see  them  turned  to  the  Lord  J esus  Christ. 
"  This  is  indeed  wonderful,"  replied  one,  "  that  the  Sahib 
should  remember  us,  when  thousands  of  miles  distant. 
What  an  interest  this  shows  in  us  !  Surely  we  shall  at  last 
become  believers."  Another  person  entreated  him  to  come 
and  see  the  image  of  Kali,  which  was  just  finished  for  her 
approaching  poojah.  "  When  I  see  these  horrid  idols,"  he 
writes,  "  I  could  weep  all  day  over  this  deluded  and  miser- 
able people,  and  they  meet  me  wherever  I  go.  The  festival 
will  begin  at  midnight,  when  the  figure  is  consecrated,  and 
the  clay  image  changed  into  a  divinity.  My  catechist  told 
me,  that  if  government  would  take  the  land  belonging  to 
idol  temples,  as  they  do  other  land.  Kali  would  soon  fall, 
and  her  worship  cease.  Why  should  it  not  be  tried  ?  On 
entering  a  village,  the  first  sight  presenting  itself  to  me  was 
a  woman  wailing  before  her  cottage.  '  O  Kali  Mother !' 
said  the  poor  thing,  '  what  hast  thou  done  ?  At  thy  last 
festival  my  child  appeared  before  thy  image,  dressed  in  new 
clothes  ;  now  he  is  not !  O  Kali  Mother  !  what  hast  thou 
done  V  When  I  lay  down  to  rest,  I  felt  exceedingly  affect- 
ed by  the  unbelief  of  these  deluded  people,  and  entreated 
the  Lord  for  grace  to  persevere,  and  never  grow  weary  in 
my  labor  for  their  conversion ;  and  should  their  day  of 
deliverance  not  come  for  me  to  behold  it,  that  I  might,  at 
any  rate,  be  enabled  to  glorify  my  precious  Saviour  among 
this  idolatrous  nation."  How  graciously  was  this  prayer 
answered ! 

To  an  intelligent  Hindu  gentleman,  who  expressed  his 


PROCEEDS  TO  CALCUTTA. 


319 


admiration  of  the  beautiful  morality  of  Christianity,  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  replied  :  "  You  judge  the  surface,  like  one  who 
has  beheld  the  residence  of  the  Governor-general  from  a 
distance,  and  admires  the  handsome  building :  but  could  he 
see  the  treasures  and  comforts  which  it  contains  within,  bis 
wonder  and  admiration  would  increase  tenfold.  I  know  and 
have  seen  the  interior  of  our  lovely  religion  ;  I  have  expe- 
rienced its  excellencies.  The  morality  of  Christianity  is 
only  its  outward  beauty,  as  made  apparent  in  the  practice 
of  true  believers ;  but  this  outward  beauty  is  the  effect  of  a 
holy  principle,  which  is  invisible,  but  which  exercises  a  power 
on  the  heart  and  mind  of  man,  that  sanctifies  and  improves 
his  whole  being." 

On  returning  from  this  tour  Mr.  Weitbrecht  proceeded 
to  Calcutta,  to  fulfill  various  public  engagements  there,  and 
breakfasted,  in  company  with  all  his  brother-missionaries, 
with  Bishop  Spencer  of  Madras,  who  was  acting  for  Bishop 
Wilson,  and  "  who  gave  us,"  he  remarks,  "  a  very  suitable 
address."  He  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  dear  Reynolds, 
who  was  appointed  to  Krishnaghur,  and  reached  Burdwan 
again  towards  Christmas.  The  following  letter  to  the  Rev. 
John  Hensman,  of  Clifton,  details  many  interesting  circum- 
stances that  occurred  at  that  period. 

"Burdwan,  Jan.  3,  1846. 
"My  Dear  Friend  :  *  *  *  *  Last  Sunday,  December  28, 
I  had  the  joy  of  baptizing  not  less  than  twenty  girls  and 
boys,  mostly  orphans,  and  every  one  of  them  nearly  as 
black  as  pitch,  for  the  laboring  classes  of  the  Hindus  are 
very  dark.  May  they  all  be  washed  and  cleansed  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  may  their  names  be  written  in  the 
book  of  Life  !  These  orphan  schools  are  indeed  the  nursery 
gardens  of  our  missions,  and  are  already  producing  the  most 
satisfactory  results.    The  children  are  kept  from  a  polluted 


320  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

heathenish  atmosphere,  and  grow  up  with  Christian  and  civ- 
ilized ideas,  principles,  and  habits.  My  brother  Leupolt  at 
Benares  has  lately  laid  out  a  new  Christian  village,  near  the 
mission  premises,  which  is  gradually  filling  with  young  men 
from  his  orphan  school,  who  have  been  brought  up  to  various 
trades.  More  on  this  subject  you  will  find  in  the  annual 
report  of  our  Burdwan  Mission,  of  which  I  will  shortly  send 
you  a  copy. 

"  Our  Christmas  season  has  been  one  of  peculiar  joy  and  sor- 
row. On  the  eve  of  the  festival,  I  closed  the  eyes  of  a  pious 
boy,  seven  years  old,  the  son  of  a  devoted  native  preacher. 
I  never  attended  a  death-bed  in  a  Hindu  cottage,  where  the 
parents  manifested  such  a  sweet  spirit  of  pious  resignation 
and  confidence  in  Jesus,  as  on  this  occasion.  His  presence 
was  indeed  felt  near  the  dying  bed  of  the  dear  child,  and 
the  peaceful  scene  was  to  me,  a  fresh  instance  of  the  bless- 
ed effect  of  the  Gospel,  among  people  of  every  clime  and 
complexion.  On  Christmas  morning,  I  attended  the  death- 
bed of  another  boy  twelve  years  old.  He  had  been  a  great 
sufferer  for  fifteen  months  past ;  but  his  trials  were  as  the 
refiner's  fire,  the  blessed  means  of  his  sanctification,  and  pre- 
paration for  a  better  world.  Kartick  (or  Peter)  was  a  gen- 
eral favorite  with  us  all,  intelligent,  sensible,  and  of  pleasing 
manners,  and  he  spoke  English  very  nicely.  Having  receiv- 
ed his  first  training  in  our  infant-school,  he  was  more  than 
commonly  lively  and  alert.  I  was  at  Calcutta  lately,  attend- 
ing the  annual  meeting  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
and  preaching  the  annual  sermon.  During  my  absence  Kar- 
tick became  worse,  and  he  longed  to  see  me.  His  conscience 
troubled  him ;  he  wished  to  see  his  path  clear,  and  felt  not 
quite  sure  whether  he  were  in  a  state  of  pardon  and  recon- 
ciliation with  God ;  the  very  feelings  which  a  faithful  minister 
delights  to  perceive  in  young  people.  After  my  return  I 
sat  down  at  his  bedside,  explaining  to  him  the  mediatorial 
character  of  Christ,  the  greatness  and  fullness  of  the  ransom 


A  SPIRITUAL  BIRTHDAY.  321 

paid  for  sinners,  and  assured  him  of  His  infinite  love  to  all 
who,  with  true  and  heartfelt  repentance,  turn  unto  Him.  I 
told  him  how  welcome  the  weakest  and  most  unworthy  are, 
when  coming  in  humble  faith  to  Him.  Kartick  had  often 
heard  those  precious  truths  before ;  but  I  believe  he  had  not 
felt  them  so  powerfully  as  he  did  now,  in  this  time  of  need. 
My  conversation  came  home  to  its  proper  place.  He  listen- 
ed with  eager  interest ;  he  repeated  several  passages  from 
the  Psalms  and  New  Testament  after  me,  showing  by  the 
expression  of  his  countenance,  that  they  were  as  manna  to 
his  hungry  soul ;  he  truly  derived  solid  comfort  from  the 
Word  of  Life.  He  then  became  peaceful  and  happy ;  he 
told  me  the  following  day  he  felt  quite  comfortable,  and 
feared  no  evil ;  he  spoke  of  his  approaching  end  with  compo- 
sure, and  told  his  friends,  that  on  Christmas-day  he  should 
die  and  go  to  heaven.  Early  on  that  blessed  morning  his 
elder  brother,  who  used  to  read  the  Bible  to  him  at  his  bed- 
side, came  and  told  me  Kartick  was  dying.  I  hastened  to 
the  humble  cottage,  which  is  situated  on  the  western  bank  of 
a  fine  sheet  of  water  in  the  mission-premises.  The  sun  was 
just  rising  m  all  the  brightness  of  an  eastern  sky,  casting  his 
rays  over  the  solemn  scene.  I  commended  the  soul  of  the 
dear  boy  into  the  hands  of  his  Saviour.  I  believe  it  was  a 
blessed  moment,  which  his  young  companions  will  not  easi- 
ly forget.  Angels  sung  the  Saviour's  birth,  *  Glory  to  God 
in  the  highest,  on  earth  peace,  good-will  toward  men ;'  doubt- 
less, thought  I,  some  of  these  ministering  spirits  are  present, 
ready  to  convey  the  soul  of  our  dear  brother  to  the  heavenly 
regions.  An  hour  afterwards,  as  I  was  meditating  on  this 
sublime  text  for  my  morning  sermon  in  English,  he  expir- 
ed. His  death  was  indeed  a  spiritual  birth-day ;  delivered 
from  sin,  sorrow,  and  pain,  this  dear  boy  was  permitted  to 
celebrate  a  new  Christmas-day  with  saints  and  angels  in 
paradise.    I  like  to  relate  such  a  death-bed  scene  in  a  heathen 

14* 


322         MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBREOHT. 

land ;  because,  to  my  mind,  nothing  proves  more  strikingly 
the  excellency  and  divine  glory  of  the  Gospel!  What  a 
contrast  it  forms  to  the  miserable  death  of  an  idolater  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ganges !  Such  a  first-fruits  gathered  into 
the  garner  is,  to  me,  a  rich  reward  for  all  my  toils  and  trials 
in  this  mission-field.  We  need  occasionally  such  a  mark 
of  the  Lord's  approbation ;  for  missionary  labor  among  the 
Hindus  in  general  has  lost  little  of  its  trying  features,  dur- 
ing my  absence  in  Europe.  My  hopes  brightened  at  a  dis- 
tance, and  I  often  indulged  in  the  delightful  thought,  that  I 
would  not  rest,  until  I  saw  numbers  gathered  into  the  fold 
of  Christ.  Now,  being  on  the  spot  again,  I  sometimes  feel 
as  one  who  is  running  with  the  head  against  the  wall :  it  will 
not  yield,  I  have  preached  many  a  sermon,  since  my  return, 
in  bazaars  and  villages;  I  cry  aloud  and  spare  not;  my 
knowledge  of  Bengali  enables  me,  freely  and  fully,  to  declare 
to  the  teeming  population  of  this  district  the  free  mercy  of 
God  in  Christ.  Perhaps  the  mass  of  the  people  is  less  op- 
posed to  our  preaching ;  many  willingly  hear  and  approve 
of  it ;  but  there  is  a  want  of  reflection,  and  an  utter  want  of 
sincerity.  Hinduism,  like  dry  rot,  has  ruined  this  people : 
they  appear  to  me  as  tow,  and  as  callous  and  dead  as 
ever. 

"  And  '  Young  Bengal,'  the  Anglicized,  educated  portion, 
is  running  deeper  into  infidelity  and  licentious  profligacy,  in 
the  same  proportion  as  those  interesting  youths  are  shaking 
ofl"  the  old  trammels  of  idolatry.  Some  clever,  would-be 
philosophers  are  now  writing  tracts  against  Christianity, 
which  are  sold  at  the  bazaars  of  Calcutta,  a  penny  apiece. 
They  are  made  up  of  scraps  from  Tom  Paine  and  others ; 
and  the  young  authors  have  the  assurance  to  retail  the  stolen 
articles  to  their  contemporaries,  as  their  own  productions. 
On  the  other  hand  it  must  be  allowed,  that  thousands  of 
Hindus  deeply  feel  and  deplore  their  physical  misery  ;  and 


IGNORANCE  OF  THE  LABORING  CLASSES.  323 

we  also  frequently  meet  with  those  who  are  aware  of  their 
mentally  and  spiritually  depressed  condition ;  but  the  Brah- 
muns  do  all  in  their  power  to  prejudice  the  minds  of  the 
population  against  Christianity.  '  We  are  like  the  silk- 
worm,' said  an  intelligent  Hindu  to  me  the  other  day, 
*  which  spins  itself  a  prison,  to  perish  in  it.  We  have  spun 
ourselves  a  network  of  superstition  and  error  from  which 
there  is  no  getting  out,  and  thus  we  die.'  I  pointed  out  to 
him  the  process  of  the  cocoon ;  how  in  time,  by  the  warmth 
of  the  sun,  it  is  changed  into  a  butterfly,  which  breaks 
through  its  prison  and  soars  aloft.  '  Do  take  your  refuge  in 
Jesus,'  said  I,  '  and  you  will  receive  power  to  burst  your 
net-work  of  Brahmunism  and  rise  to  a  new  life  in  God.' 
'  You  are  right ;  very  true,'  was  the  reply. 

"  I  have,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  had  a  considerable 
number  of  inquirers  from  some  neighboring  villages,  who 
come  from  a  considerable  distance  to  attend  church  every 
Sunday  morning,  and  to  receive  instruction.  Three  heads 
of  families  I  baptized,  besides  three  adults  from  other  quar- 
ters ;  the  rest  are  not  yet  decided  enough.  The  laboring 
classes  are  exceedingly  ignorant  and  poor.  The  idea  of  be- 
coming Christians  is  too  often  joined  with  a  second  thought, 
that  of  bettering  their  circumstances  in  life.  Hence  we  fre- 
quently discover,  that  secular  views  have  some  influence,  in 
prompting  them  to  ask  for  Christian  instruction  and  baptism. 
This  is  not  seldom  the  case  with  people  who  are  otherwise 
sincere,  and  ready  to  renounce  caste  and  idolatry.  Well, 
we  must  still  go  on  laboring  in  hope,  as  the  husbandman 
waiteth  for  the  precious  fruit  of  the  earth.  One  thing  is 
evident,  the  time  for  very  extensive  conversion  is  not  yet 
come  in  Bengal,  though  there  is  a  great  stir  and  commotion 
in  many  quarters  ;  but  come  it  will ;  there  can  be  no  doubt 
on  this  point.    I  found  great  comfort  at  our  family  devotions 


324  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

this  morning,  in  reflecting  on  Isa.  2  :  17, 18,  '  And  the  Lord 
alone  shall  be  exalted  in  that  day,'  etc. 

"  Native  education  has  lately  received  a  fresh  impulse,  by 
the  government  of  Bengal  directing  the  establishment  of  an 
English  college  at  Krishnaghur,  with  three  branch  schools, 
one  of  which  has  just  now  been  opened  at  Burdwan,  and  I 
hear  no  less  than  two  hundred  Hindu  boys  have  applied  for 
admission  here.  Employments  in  lucrative  government 
offices  are  held  out  to  the  most  advanced  scholars ;  and,  in 
the  college,  some  dozen  of  comfortable  scholarships.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  idolatry  will  gradually  decrease  in  conse- 
quence of  these  efforts,  as  the  native  mind  is  raised  from  its 
low,  grovelling  condition.  But  one  radical  evil  still  remains. 
Religion  is  not  only  left  out  of  sight  in  these  scholastic 
arrangements,  but  they  go  to  the  opposite  extreme,  acting  in 
a  spirit  little  short  of  hostility  towards  Christianity.  In  the 
government  plan  of  education,  every  thing  having  reference 
to  our  religion  is  most  carefully  excluded.  The  teacher 
and  books  must  not  contain  a  religious  spark  in  them. 

 Another  teacher  is  decidedly  immoral.    And  these 

are  the  men  chosen  by  government,  to  form  the  mind  of  the 
rising  generation.  It  is  for  this  reason  chiefly,  that  those 
government  schools  in  Bengal  have  produced  such  fearful 
crops  of  infidelity.  In  the  present  state  of  Hindu  society, 
such  men,  occupying  such  an  influential  position,  do  more 
harm  than  bigoted  Brahmuns,  by  imbuing  the  minds  of  their 
pupils  with  fine  poetry  and  skeptical  notions,  and  prejudicing 
them  against  Christianity.  Thus  education  is  turned  into  a 
curse,  and  the  stream  of  knowledge,  which  was  to  convey  a 
blessing,  is  poisoned ;  and  it  is  this  government  itself  which 
will  eventually  be  the  sufferer,  and  reap  its  withering  effect. 
I  have  been  told  by  men  of  influence,  that  nothing  will  be 
done  in  Calcutta  to  mend  the  evil ;  they  tell  me,  that  the 
battle  must  be  fought  in  Exeter  Hall.    Christian  England 


DR.  DEALTRy's  efforts  FOR  REFORM.  325 

must  agitate  the  question,  and  compel  the  government  of 
Bengal  to  adopt  a  system  of  education,  which  is  more  likely 
to  improve  the  moral  character  of  the  Hindus.  It  is  true, 
we  can  not  expect  Christianity  to  be  taught  in  government 
schools  ;  but  England  has  a  right  to  demand,  that  the  system 
of  education  should,  at  least,  not  be  repulsive  to  her  holy 
religion.  So,  my  dear  friend,  here  is  a  hint  which  I  trust 
will  not  be  lost  sight  of  in  proper  quarters.  Our  friend, 
Archdeacon  Dealtry,  has  lately  made  an  effort  which  does 
him  great  honor.  He  strongly  recommended  to  the  Board 
of  Education  at  Calcutta,  the  following  propositions  for  their 
adoption : 

"  1.  That  a  library  be  established  in  every  government 
college  and  English  school,  composed  of  the  best  theological, 
philosophical,  and  scientific  works. 

"  2.  That  lectures  be  delivered  on  history,  and  other  use- 
ful branches  of  literature,  with  a  reference  to  Christianity. 

"  3.  That  only  such  men  be  appointed  as  superintendents 
and  teachers,  as  bear  an  unblemished  character,  and  are 
decidedly  influenced  by  Christian  principles. 

"  These  propositions  were  at  once  negatived  by  the  Board 
of  Education. 

"  Another  piece  of  gross  injustice  is,  the  establishment  of 
government  English  schools,  at  places  where  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  has  hitherto  carried  on  that  interesting 
branch  of  labor.  The  consequence  is,  that  scholars  are 
drawn  away,  and  our  schools  are  seriously  injured.  We 
have  lost  half  of  our  best  boys  at  Burdwan.  This  is  the 
more  to  be  regretted,  as  there  are  many  important  places  in 
Bengal,  where  the  ground  is  quite  unoccupied,  and  where 
nothing  has  been  done.  Two  systems  of  education  being 
pursued  at  the  same  place,  the  one  on  Christian  and  the 
other  on  anti-christian  principles,  the  natives  have  actually 
got  the  impression  that  the  government  are  opposed  to 


326         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


Christianity,  and  prefer  infidel  and  heathen  men  in  their 
offices  to  Christians  ;  and  thus  Christianity  is  rendered  addi- 
tionally despicable  and  odious. 

"  Again,  the  Jesuits  are  now  really  in  earnest  about  Krish- 
naghur.  They  seem  to  find  it  more  convenient  to  steal  con- 
verts from  Protestant  missions,  than  to  get  new  ones  by 
their  own  efforts.  They  have  lately  bought  ground  at  the 
station  to  raise  an  establishment ;  they  are  making  collections 
in  Calcutta.  Thus  our  most  prosperous  mission  in  Bengal 
is  assailed  by  three  terrific  foes ;  Pope,  Pagan,  and  Tom 
Paine  are  at  it ;  but  the  Lord  reigns,  and  will  triumph  over 
all  His  enemies.  I  am  not  afraid  for  the  result,  but  it  only 
shows  that  this  is  a  time  to  be  up  and  doing.  We  want 
more  men,  more  united  efforts,  and  more  prayerful  hearts 
here  and  at  home. — With  sincere  respect,  affection,  and 
esteem,  believe  me,  my  dear  Mr.  Hensman,  your  faithful 
brother  in  Christ,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 


INTERESTING  INCIDENTS  ON  TOUR. 


327 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Interesting  Incidents  on  Tour — Arrival  of  Brethren — Letter  to  Mrs. 
Ramsay — Ulness  of  Air.  Reynolds — Letter  to  his  Child — Excursion  to 
Chota  Xagpore  —  Conference  —  Presentation  to  Christ's  Hospital — 
Anecdote  of  Roman  Catholic  Missions. 

1846—1847. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  thus  commences  his  journal  of  1846 ; 
^'•January  \st. — 'Fear  not,  Abraham,  I  am  thy  shield  and 
thy  exceeding  great  reward.'  With  such  an  assurance,  and 
such  a  promise  as  my  staff  and  support,  I  would  begin  this 
new  year.    O  Lord  !  help  ;  give  now  prosperity. 

"  \th.—\  preached  in  Bengali  on  Heb.  13  :  20,  '  The  God 
of  peace,  who  brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,'  etc.  Precious 
words  !  they  gave  me  sweet  comfort  on  the  first  Sabbath  of 
a  new  year,  and  my  mind  had  been  brought  into  a  delightful 
frame  by  the  sacrament,  which  we  had  celebrated  in  the 
English  service  in  the  morning." 

The  next  day  he  set  off  on  one  of*  his  itinerating  tours, 
with  two  of  the  catechists.  "We  went,"  he  writes,  "partly 
on  foot  and  occasionally  on  horseback."  He  notices,  on  the 
6th,  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  and  his  desires  arose  afresh 
that  Christ  might  be  manifested  indeed  to  the  poor  Hindus, 
in  the  glory  of  His  truth  and  salvation.    Having  no  tent 


328         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

with  him,  and  no  palanquin,  he  had  to  make  various  contri- 
vances for  his  accommodation  at  night.  "  In  one  place,"  he 
says,  "  I  fixed  upon  an  open  shed  where  a  native  patshala 
(boys'  school)  was  held.  I  hung  up  curtains  as  a  screen, 
but  the  numerous  Hindu  boys,  who  gathered  round  the  place 
to  gaze  upon  me,  proved  rather  troublesome ;  some  took 
the  liberty  of  opening  my  curtains  and  peeping  through ; 
some  even  entered  my  little  sanctuary.  About  twenty  boys 
were  writing  on  their  palm  leaves  in  the  morning,  and  this 
was  all  the  instruction  imparted  in  this  place  of  learning. 
The  schoolmaster  was  a  man  afflicted  with  leprosy  of  the 
worst  species.  His  fingers  and  toes  were  nearly  eaten 
away ;  and  his  lips  and  tongue  were  so  affected,  that  his 
pronunciation  was  very  indistinct.  He  was  indeed  a  loath- 
some spectacle,  a  true  picture  of  the  effects  of  heathenism. 
The  appointment  of  such  a  man  to  scholastic  duties  shows, 
that  education  has  as  low  a  place  in  the  estimation  of  these 
Hindus,  as  it  had  in  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Steinthal ; 
where  Pastor  Oberlin  found  an  old  superannuated  swine- 
herd similarly  employed."  The  particulars  of  many  preach- 
ing scenes  and  discussions  follow,  but  as  these  necessarily 
bear  a  close  affinity  with  those  that  occurred  on  other  tours, 
we  pass  them  over.  One  day,  he  met  with  a  party  of  offi- 
cers hastening  up  the  country  to  join  the  army  of  the  Pun- 
jaub.  One  of  the  fearful  battles  that  brought  that  country 
under  English  government  and  influence  had  just  been 
fought ;  and  they  detailed  the  particulars  to  him.  "  I  felt 
quite  excited,"  he  writes,  "  and  could  not  but  express  my 
great  thankfulness  to  God;  for  if  He  had  not  crowned  the 
British  arms  with  success,  it  is  frightful  to  contemplate  the 
scenes  that  would  have  ensued."  At  another  place,  he 
entered  the  court-yard  of  a  native  gentleman's  house,  and 
found  a  party  of  twelve  young  men  playing  at  cards.  They 
respectfully  rose,  and  addressed  him  in  English,  which  they 


GENERAL  THANKSGIVING  FOR  VICTORIES. 


329 


all  knew;  and  finding  he  \v^as  a  missionary,  they  expressed  a 
desire  for  an  English  New  Testament,  wliich  he  gave  them. 
One  of  them,  a  peculiarly  pleasing  youth,  conducted  him  to 
his  father's  house,  where  he  told  him  he  would  find  a  large 
assembly  who  would  be  glad  to  hear  the  Gospel.  On  enter- 
ing, this  youth  said :  "  Sir,  you  see  a  numerous  assembly 
before  you  ;  they  all  want  to  hear  you  ;  they  know  you  are 
the  Padre  Sahib  of  Burdwan,  and  that  you  speak  fine  and 
elegant  Bengali."  He  spoke  from  Acts  18 ;  St.  Paul's 
address  to  the  Athenians,  and  was  heard  with  deep  attention. 
On  leaving,  he  presented  the  kind-hearted  master  of  the 
house  with  the  four  Gospels  in  Bengali,  which  gave  him 
much  pleasure.  The  son  told  him,  that  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  giving  lectures  on  various  interesting  subjects,  and  that 
the  common  people  heard  him  gladly.  "  These  youths," 
remarks  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  will  eventually  turn  the  public 
mind  ;  the  old  generation  will  pass  away,  and  they  will  peo- 
ple the  land.  What  a  contrast  between  this  amiable  youth 
and  the  bitter  old  Brahmun!  When  I  left  him,  he  said: 
*  O  sir !  when  will  you  come  again  ?  I  want  some  rev- 
erend gentleman  to  guide  me.' 

"  In  the  evening,  when  preaching  in  the  bazaar,  these  young 
men  attended;  and  afterwards  begged  me  to  take  a  walk  in 
the  fields  with  them,  and  continue  our  conversation  on  divine 
subjects."  How  such  circumstances  as  these  remind  one  of 
our  blessed  Saviour's  experience,  when  He  dwelt  among  us, 
and  when,  as  the  first  missionary  of  His  own  message  of  love 
to  men.  He  exhorted  the  multitudes,  and  guided  and  gently 
led  His  own  little  selected  band  of  disciples.  They  were 
sometimes  as  carnal  in  their  ideas,  and  as  dull  in  spiritual 
things,  as  the  Hindus,  though  they  were  from  among  God's 
chosen  people. 

On  arriving  at  Chinsurah,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  heard  of  the 
final  defeat  of  the  Sikhs ;  and  preached  on  Sunday  morning, 


330         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT 

at  the  request  of  the  chaplain,  in  the  English  Church,  It  was 
a  solemn  service ;  and  a  general  and  heartfelt  thanksgiving 
was  offered  to  God  for  the  late  victories.  This  was  done 
throughout  India,  by  order  of  the  bishop.  He  met  a  dear 
friend  just  arrived  from  England,  who  returned  with  him  to 
Burdwan,  where  he  found  all  well,  and  the  repairs  of  the 
mission-house  advancing  fast. 

On  the  27th  he  left  for  a  tour  in  another  direction.  "At 
one  village,"  he  says,  "  I  was  told  by  a  man,  that  he  would 
take  me  to  a  place  where  I  could  obtain  a  congregation.  I 
followed  him  to  a  spot,  where  four  hundred  respectable  people 
were  sitting  on  the  ground,  with  leaves  stitched  together,  placed 
before  them  as  plates,  and  four  servitors  waiting  on  them ; 
first,  a  heap  of  rice  was  poured  out  on  each  plate,  then  vegeta- 
ble curry,  milk,  and  rice  followed,  and  all  enjoyed  the  feast, 
being  rather  pleased  than  disturbed  by  my  presence.  The 
occasion  was  that  of  a  shradha,  or  funeral  feast.  A  Boshtom 
had  died,  and  these  men  were  all  brother  Boshtoms.  At 
intervals  one  gave  out  a  prayer,  to  which  all  responded.  It 
was  merely  a  repetition  of  the  name  of  the  deceased  indivi- 
dual, and  an  invocation  similar  to  'Peace  be  to  him.'  When 
dinner  was  over,  each  individual  hastily  took  up  parts  of 
the  fragments  remaining,  to  convey  to  their  relatives  and 
other  disciples  of  the  Boshtom,  as  every  one  who  tastes  of 
the  residue  of  the  shradha,  will  become  exempt  fi-om  the  evil 
of  being  born  again  into  the  body  of  an  inferior  animal.  We 
addressed  them  on  John  14 :  '  Jesus  the  Way,  the  Truth, 
and  the  Life,'  and  the  comforts  and  joys  of  His  heaven  of 
bliss." 

At  another  spot,  he  witnessed  a  new  scene.  The  grandson 
of  the  Gossein  of  the  place  had  gained  a  heavy  lawsuit,  in 
which  the  whole  property  of  this  great  zemindar  was  con- 
tested. "  Such  joy  and  wild  uproar  I  never  before  beheld," 
said  he.    A  party,  armed  with  swords  and  sticks,  ran  off  to 


A  DYING  HEATHEN. 


331 


thrash  the  witnesses,  who  had  given  false  evidence  against 
their  master.  In  this  way,  wealthy  Hindu  gentlemen  con- 
stantly take  the  law  into  their  own  hands. 

On  this  tour  he  notices  the  singular  custom  the  Hindus 
have,  of  worshipping  every  tool  and  implement  ^vith  which 
they  perform  their  daily  labors,  on  the  occasion  of  the  festival 
held  in  honor  of  the  goddess,  Shareswathi.  "  I  observed," 
he  remarks,  "  several  images  of  the  goddess,  and  before 
each,  heaps  of  paper  account-books,  pens,  inkstands,  palm- 
leaves,  hammers,  and  other  articles  too  numerous  to  detail. 
On  this  day,  every  individual  offers  divine  adoration  to  that 
particular  instrument,  by  the  aid  of  which  he  gets  his  daily 
bread.  Thus  the  Hindu  Pantheon  is  swelled,  by  their  own 
account,  to  the  vast  number  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
three  millions  of  gods."  Just  after  passing  the  image,  the 
fearful  shrieks  of  a  woman  attracted  his  attention.  A  young 
man  was  passing  into  eternity,  and  his  mother  was  frantic 
with  grief.  The  brothers  and  sisters  sat  around  in  sullen 
misery.  He  entreated  the  poor  mother  not  to  increase  the 
dying  agonies  of  her  son  by  her  fearful  noise,  but  to  pray  to 
the  Almighty  to  sustain  her.  He  could  not  but  draw  the 
contrast  between  this  sad  scene,  and  that  of  the  dying  beds 
he  was  sometimes  privileged  to  witness,  among  those 
Hindus  who  believed  in  Jesus.  On  again  visiting  the  newly- 
baptized  converts,  he  found  no  reason  to  continue  to  indulge 
his  hopes  of  more  extended  conversions  in  their  villages,  and 
he  adds :  "  Well  the  Lord  knows  how  earnestly  and  prayer- 
fully I  endeavored  to  bring  them  to  Christ,  and  I  am  clear 
of  their  blood." 

Feb.  1. — He  mentions  a  favorable  answer,  which  he  re- 
ceived from  the  Secretary  to  the  Government  Council  of 
Education,  to  whom  he  had  applied  for  the  grant  of  certain 
privileges  to  the  boys  brought  up  in  the  Mission  English 
school.    "  Our  pupils  will,"  he  says,"  if  found  as  well  fitted, 


332  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

be  as  eligible  for  government  appointments,  as  those  who 
are  educated  in  their  own  schools." 

The  following  extract  from  letters  of  this  date  gives  us 
some  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  lively  descriptions  of  little  pass- 
ing occurrences  of  the  day  : 

"  Our  new  organ  has  arrived  from  England,  and  it  has 
been  nicely  set  up  by  our  dear  brethren,  who  have  taken 
the  utmost  pains  with  it.  But  for  their  kind  aid,  I  should 
have  been  entirely  at  a  loss,  and  should  have  had  to  get  up 
a  professional  person  from  Calcutta,  at  a  great  expense,  who 
would  not  have  done  the  business  half  so  well.  When  it  is 
played,  the  natives  assemble  in  crowds  on  the  road-side ;  for 
such  an  instrument  has  never  been  heard  in  these  quarters 
before,  and  many  probably  regard  it  as  a  new  incarnation 
of  Vishnu. 

"  My  wife  arranged  a  little  concert,  to  take  place  at  the 
time  ladies  go  out  for  their  evening  drive ;  and  she  had 
several  tables  covered  with  a  variety  of  tempting  articles, 
which  she  had  received  from  England  for  sale.  The  orphan 
girls  were  allowed  to  come,  dressed  in  clean  white  garments, 
and  several  of  the  native  Christians  were  present.  The 
whole  scene  was  really  pretty.  In  this  sunny  climate,  it  is 
not  so  difficult  as  it  might  seem  to  you  to  get  up  such  an 
affair ;  and,  you  know,  ladies  are  never  at  a  loss,  where  a 
little  management  will  effect  some  good  end.  So  it  turned 
out  well.  The  people  all  came.  They  said  the  organ  was 
beautiful,  and  the  performers  were  highly  applauded.  Cer- 
tainly our  dear  brethren  did  play  some  nice  German  pieces 
much  to  my  taste  ;  and  while  they  were  doing  so,  the  fine 
tables  were  nearly  emptied.  The  Rajah  bought  up  the  en- 
tire contents  of  the  one  presided  over  by  Miss  Ladame ; 
and  some  necessary  rupees  were  realized  for  our  orphan 
boys  and  girls.  My  wife,  I  must  tell  you,  patronizes  both 
sexes.    She  is  now  gone  to  Calcutta  on  a  similar  errand,  and 


SICKNESS,  FAMILY  TRIALS  AND  MERCIES.  333 

writes  me  that  she  has  succeeded  beyond  expectation,  and 
sold  for  seven  hundred  rupees.  She  had  to  take  the  dear 
babe  with  her,  and  the  increasing  heat  kept  me  in  some 
anxiety  till  their  safe  return.  The  day  following  it, 
dear  Krauss  was  married.  It  was  a  very  happy  wedding 
party. 

"  I  am  preparing  all  the  materials  for  our  new  church. 
It  shall  have  a  spire  pointing  to  heaven.  Burdwan  is  filled 
with  Hindu  temples  and  Mohammedan  mosques,  and  we  are 
sometimes  asked  why  we  have  no  building  worthy  of  the 
God  we  worship.  It  will  stand  on  the  road-side,  and  be 
seen  by  the  innumerable  travellers  that  pass  daily.  Up  to 
this  time,  there  is  not  a  single  Christian  church  visible  the 
whole  way  from  Chinsurah  to  Benares,  nearly  four  hundred 
miles.  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  journal  of  this  date  refers  to  sickness,  and  family 
trials  and  mercies.  He  was  concerned  for  the  great  fatigue 
resting  on  his  wife  during  his  frequent  absences,  on  account 
of  the  building  of  the  second  story  on  the  mission-house, 
and  other  heavy  cares  ;  but  his  faith  sustained  him,  and  it 
is  remarkable  how  graciously  God  honored  it ;  for  not  one 
histance  is  remembered,  of  serious  consequences  being  per- 
mitted to  arise  at  home,  from  his  continued  absences  on 
duty,  which  might  have  been  averted  by  his  presence; 
though  alarming  events  did  sometimes  occur,  and  on  one  or 
two  occasions,  he  had  to  be  summoned  home  by  special 
messengers.  A  very  dreadful  case  of  this  kind  happened  at 
this  period,  and  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter  to  a 
friend  with  whom  one  of  his  cliildren  was  placed,  manifest 
how,  in  the  midst  of  these  trials,  divine  comforts  did  mdeed 
delight  his  soul : 


334         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


"  April  6. 

"  My  Dear  Mrs.  Ramsay  :  Many  thanks  for  your  kind 
letter  of  January.  You  may  imagine  what  consolation  and 
joy  it  gives  us,  when  we  hear  such  satisfactory  and  cheering 
accounts  of  our  dear  children.  The  Lord  is  indeed  repaying 
us  in  kind,  and  for  what  we  have  left  behind  for  His  name's 
sake,  he  restores  to  us  a  hundred-fold.  We  have  had  some 
great  and  severe  trials  lately,  arising  principally  from  the 
wickedness  of  the  heathen  around  us,  and  the  malice  of  a 
relapsed  and  unprincipled  native  Christian  ;  but  what  else 
can  we  expect  in  our  position  ?  The  Lord  is  very  gracious 
in  giving  us  strength  to  endure.  The  Apostle  told  his 
beloved  Timothy,  'Thou  therefore  endure  hardness,  as  a 
good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.'  This  seems,  to  this  day, 
the  missionary's  motto.  So  long  as  Satan  is  loose,  he  will 
rage  and  pour  out  his  fury  against  the  servants  of  Jesus. 
All  we  can  do,  when  the  dark  waves  roll  along,  is  to  be  still 
and  wait  on  Him.  We  have  never  been  disappointed  of 
His  help. 

"  Nothing  would  give  me  greater  delight  than  to  see  my 
dear  boy  becoming  a  missionary ;  but  you  know  what  is 
necessary  for  such  an  arduous  work  ;  a  heart  entirely  con- 
secrated to  the  Saviour,  pride  and  self-will  subdued,  and  a 
mind  sanctified  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.  This  prepara- 
tion comes  from  above ;  tell  F.  to  pray  for  it.  If  an  open- 
ing should  present  itself  for  his  being  admitted  into  Christ's 
Hospital,  *  we  shall  accept  it  as  coming  from  the  Lord's 
hand,  and  trust  to  His  kind  guidance  and  providence.  *  *  * 

"  The  cholera  is  thinning  the  population  around  us  in  a 
fearful  way ;  a  few  days  ago  I  heard  that  one  half  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Culna  had  died ;  this  would  be  ten  thousand 
souls ;  if  only  one  fourth  part,  it  is  awful  enough.    My  dear 


*  A  Free  School  in  London. 


A  HINDU  CHRISTIAN  VILLAGE. 


335 


wife  wanted  to  write,  but  she  has  more  devolving  on  her 
than  she  can  bear.  May  the  Lord  abundantly  bless  you 
for  your  kindness  to  our  dear  boy  !  Our  united  kind  love. 
Ever  believe  me,  my  dear  friend,  yours,  in  the  best  of  bonds, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

"  2^th. — Through  Divine  mercy,  I  have  been  permitted  to 
celebrate  my  forty-fifth  birthday.  Oh !  that  I  may,  by  God's 
grace,  become  riper  for  heaven,  as  I  am  approaching  nearer 
the  confines  of  eternity,  and  may  I  still  be  helped  on  to  do 
something  more  for  my  Saviour,  in  this  heathen  land !  I 
received  a  letter  the  other  day,  in  which  it  was  affirmed  to 
me,  that  I  had  been  elected  Canon  of  the  new  cathedral. 
Should  such  a  thing  be,  I  hope  it  will  not  draw  me  aside 
from  my  mission  work ;  for  I  am  determined,  by  God's 
grace,  to  stand  to  my  colors,  as  long  as  life  and  health  are 
granted. 

"  May  4:th. — We  moved  into  our  new  house  to-day. 
May  the  Lord  Jesus  dwell  with  us  here  !  The  fatigue  of 
finishing  it  off  and  moving  in  was  killing  work ;  and  a  few 
days  since  I  thought  I  should  have  sunk  under  it,  but  God 
restored  me  from  the  attack  it  brought  on.  My  wife  is 
thoroughly  exhausted,  but  our  Saviour  is  for  little  trials  as 
well  as  great  ones ;  He  knows  how  to  speak  a  word  in  sea- 
son to  one  who  is  weary.  It  was  a  matter  of  necessity  for 
us  to  move  in ;  our  brethren  really  needed  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  other  house,  since  Geidt  has  returned." 

'''May. 

"  My  Dear  Friend  Your  news  of  Gobat's 

having  been  invited  to  accept  the  Bishopric  of  Jerusalem 
has  caused  us  as  much  surprise  as  joy.  *  *  *  *  Now  for 
some  good  news  on  our  side.  Bion  at  Doyapore,  near 
Dacca,  baptized  twelve  natives  in  one  day,  and  many  more 
desire  baptism.    These  humble  brethren  scarcely  begin 


336         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

their  labors,  when  they  gather  in  a  number  of  converts. 
Geidt  has  just  returned  from  the  Krishnaghur  district,  he  is 
quite  in  raptures  with  Lipp's  beautiful  Christian  village. 
Here  you  see  Bengali  Christians  living  in  their  own  natural 
simplicity,  in  neat  and  comfortable  cottages,  each  of  the 
more  respectable  containing  two  or  three  rooms,  with  nice 
verandahs  in  front.  To  every  cottage  some  ground  is  at- 
tached, which  the  people  cultivate,  raising  therein  fruit,  vege- 
tables, and  other  useful  productions,  which  in  some  cases 
provide  support  for  the  families,  and  in  others  considerably 
aid  thereto.  Bright-colored  and  pretty  flowers,  such  as  grow 
spontaneously  in  Bengal,  enliven  the  garden,  especially  that 
part  of  it  near  the  cottage ;  then  the  people  are  seen  sitting 
at  their  work  in  the  verandah,  the  women  spinning,  the  men 
perhaps  reading  a  book  aloud,  and  the  children  playing 
around ;  while  the  chickens  and  other  live  stock,  but  espe- 
cially the  cows,  feeding  somewhere  near,  give  you  the  idea 
of  comfort  and  plenty.  If  you  enter  the  cottage,  the  first 
thing  that  strikes  you,  is  a  humble  little  library  of  suitable 
books ;  and  the  appearance  of  other  trifling  accommodations, 
such  as  a  wooden  desk,  or  a  chair,  at  once  reminds  you  that 
you  are  in  a  Christian's  dwelling,  for  no  heathen  of  that 
rank  in  society  would  possess  such  articles.  Most  of  these 
people  are  ryots,  (cultivators;)  and  our  brother  has  shown 
much  discretion  in  keeping  them,  as  to  position  in  society, 
exactly  as  he  found  them,  only  teaching  them  to  live  more 
comfortably ;  and  they  can  do  so,  being  free  from  debt,  an 
incumbrance  which  always  hangs  on  every  poor  ryot  in 
Bengal,  while  he  is  in  the  hands  of  the  talookdar,  (the  man 
employed  by  the  zemindar  or  land-holder  to  let  out  ground 
to  the  actual  cultivators  of  the  soil.)  Thus  these  poor  peo- 
ple find  that  godliness,  or  Christianity,  has  promise  of  the 
life  that  now  is,  as  well  as  of  that  which  is  to  come  ;  new 
dwellings  are  continually  erecting,  and  the  catechists  and 


A  FLOURISHING  MISSION. 


337 


readers,  who  dwell  promiscuously  among  the  others,  exer- 
cise a  good  influence  in  various  ways.  Lipp  is  a  wise  man, 
and  lays  his  foundation  strong  and  well.  A  few  years  ago 
the  entire  spot  was  wild  jungle.  I  was  with  our  good 
brother,  when  we  marked  out  the  site  for  a  house  and 
measured  the  ground.  *  Now  the  wilderness  and  solitary 
place  have  literally  become  glad,  and  the  desert  rejoices 
and  blossoms  as  the  rose.  Your  affectionate 

"J.  J.  W." 

On  the  26th,  as  soon  as  matters  were  a  little  settled  in 
the  new  dwelling,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  left  for  Krishnaghur,  to 
attend  the  missionary  conference,  and  preached  on  Whit- 
Sunday  at  Kapasdanga,  where  Mr.  Krauss  and  his  bride  re- 
ceived him  with  aflectionate  joy.  He  never  thought  this 
mission  looked  more  inviting ;  the  Boirob,  on  the  banks  of 
which  the  mission-house  stands,  so  much  resembles  an  Eng- 
lish river.  Its  green  banks  presented  at  this  time  a  lovely 
scene,  with  herds  of  cows  and  goats  grazing  upon  them,  and 
no  palm-trees  near  to  destroy  the  pleasing  illusion,  of  fancy- 
ing one's  self  in  Europe.  "  But  the  church,"  he  adds,  "  is 
far  too  small ;  it  is  crowded  to  suffocation ;  and  though  the 
verandahs  are  filled,  not  nearly  all  the  people  can  get  in  ; 
yet  Krauss  has  occupied  no  room  by  a  pulpit,  but  stands 
behind  the  communion-rail  to  preach.  I  observed  an  aged 
man  in  tears  during  service,  and  the  deep  attention  of  the 
people  was  beautiful.  Krauss  told  me,  an  old  man  who 
brings  water  for  household  use  would  not  consent  to  be  paid, 
saying  he  had  all  his  wants  supplied.  This  might  be  thought 
nothing  remarkable  in  England,  but  in  Bengal  it  is  little 
short  of  miraculous.  Another  old  man,  a  laborer,  begged 
for  leave  on  Wednesdays  to  attend  the  weekly  lecture ; 
'  for,'  said  he,  '  I  have  but  a  short  time  to  live,  and  I  like  to 
go  to  the  house  of  God  and  prepare  for  eternity.'  " 

*  See  page  239. 

15 


338  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Kraiiss  himself,  though 
out  of  date,  contains  such  a  graphic  little  notice  of  Bishop 
Spencer's  visit,  that  it  will  be  read  with  interest  in  this  place, 
especially  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  writer  of  it  could 
say  with  St.  John,  (Rev.  1  :  9,)  "I  also  am  your  brother  and 
companion  in  tribulation,  and  in  the  kingdom  and  patience 
of  J esus  Christ ;"  and  that  both  these  devoted  brethren  are 
now  together,  in  the  immediate  presence  of  Him  "  who 
liveth  and  was  dead,  and  is  alive  for  evermore." 

"  Kapasdanga,  Feb. 
"  My  Dear  Brother  :  .  .  .  The  Bishop  of  Madras,  his 
chaplain.  Archdeacon  Dealtry,  and  Blumhardt,  Lipp,  and 
Reynolds,  all  arrived  on  Thursday  morning.  The  three 
former  gentlemen  were  on  horseback,  and  the  Christian 
boys  and  girls  of  the  schools  met  them  in  procession ;  on 
their  entering  the  compound,  these  children  formed  into  lines 
on  each  side  the  road,  the  boys  being  opposite  to  the  girls. 
The  gong  struck  seven  from  the  church-tower  at  that  moment; 
the  morning  sun  was  just  risen  in  his  eastern  brightness,  and 
the  numerous  birds  which  tenant  the  large  banian-trees,  that 
you  admired  so  much  in  my  compound,  were  warbling  forth 
their  praises  to  their  Maker.  It  was  a  lovely  sight,  and  was 
agreeable  to  us  all.  The  visitors  stopped  their  horses  for  a 
while  to  admire  it ;  and  while  they  were  doing  so,  the 
school  children  marched  off  in  order  to  the  front  of  the 
church  and  school,  where  they  struck  up  the  morning  hymn, 
and  sung  it  through,  taking  up  the  parts  very  naturally  and 
perfectly.  The  bishop  begged  for  its  repetition  more  than 
once  ;  and  he  said  he  never  beheld  a  more  lovely  sight,  than 
that  of  these  poor  Hindu  children,  who  were  dressed,  in  their 
clean  white  Christmas  clothing.  We  dressed,  breakfasted, 
and  then  received  an  address  from  the  bishop,  who  after- 
wards administered  the  rite  of  confirmation  to  one  hundred 


SERIOUS  ILLNESS  OF  MR.  REYNOLDS. 


339 


and  two  persons.  On  Friday  morning  they  left ;  and  the 
bishop  expressed  to  me  his  great  regret,  that  the  advanced 
state  of  the  season  would  prevent  him  from  proceeding  to 
Burdwan  to  visit  your  mission.  I  told  him  he  lost  much ; 
and  he  said,  that  if  he  had  been  aware  of  all  the  interest 
connected  with  your  station,  and  had  understood  it  as  fully 
when  he  left  Calcutta  as  he  now  did,  nothing  should  have 
prevented  him  from  so  arranging  his  tour  as  to  take  Burd- 
wan in  the  circle  — Your  very  affectionate  brother, 

"  C.  Krauss." 

"  I  have  had  a  severe  attack  of  influenza,  which  is  prevail- 
ing here.  We  are  now  in  the  damp,  sultry,  unhealthy  sea- 
son ;  the  fields  full  of  water  and  frogs,  and  the  air  full  of 
musquitoes  and  other  vermin ;  the  loaded  state  of  the  atmo- 
sphere producing  in  many  people  an  eflect,  somewhat  similar 
to  what  paralysis  does  in  England,  namely,  a  deranged  sys- 
tem, excessive  anxiety,  irritation,  and  despondency,  and,  with 
the  best-constituted  mind,  it  requires  no  small  effort  to  be 
cheerful." 

In  August  Mr.  Weitbrecht  heard  of  the  serious  illness  of 
Mr,  Reynolds,  which  caused  him  shortly  after  to  leave  India. 
The  sad  news  was  conveyed  in  a  letter  from  the  poor  sufferer 
himself,  written  almost  illegibly,  and  apparently  as  by  one 
struggling  with  death :  "  I  am  dying  of  dysentery,  my 
brother,  and  I  fear  I  may  perish  ;  oh  !  pray  for  me  !"  He 
retired  immediately  with  his  wife,  and  as  they  knelt  together, 
pleaded  earnestly  with  the  Lord  to  spare  his  beloved  brother; 
and  then  wrote  at  once  to  tell  him  this,  and  to  encourage 
him  to  believe  that  the  Lord  would  raise  him  up ;  which  He 
graciously  did,  as  he  was  soon  after  informed  by  the  poor 
sufferer  himself,  who  writes :  "  The  Lord  has  heard  your 
prayers,  my  dear  kind  friend.  I  am  alive.  For  four  nights 
the  doctor  never  left  me.  Every  mercy  has  been  given  me ; 
above  all,  praying  friends.    I  trusted  in  your  prayers ; 


340  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


thanks,  thanks  for  your  love,  for  your  kind  letter.  I  had 
not  the  slightest  hope,  and  committed  my  soul  as  a  wretched 
sinner  lost,  polluted,  and  undone,  to  the  Lord  Jesus.  The 
doctor  thought  I  must  have  gone;  the  spirit  hung  by  a 
thread.  I  felt  myself  getting  cold,  and  a  strong  man  died 
just  by  of  the  same  complaint.  I  can  not  think  much  yet. 
Remember  me  kindly  to  your  dear  wife.  Your  affectionate 
and  most  unworthy  brother,  E.  Reynolds." 

Thus  did  he  by  prayer,  not  only  refresh  his  own  soul,  but 
communicate  strength  and  refreshment  to  the  souls  of  his 
brethren.  Yet  none  mourned  more  over  failures  in  this 
respect,  for  we  find  in  a  letter  of  this  date  to  his  friend  Mr. 
Bridges  the  following  paragraph:  "As  a  body  of  missionaries 
we  want  more  spirituality  of  mind,  more  deep-toned  devoted" 
ness,  more  prayer.  Oh !  how  often  I  long  for  a  new  Pentecost 
upon  our  souls,  and  upon  our  missions  !" 

"28ifA. — One  evening,  as  we  were  going  out,  a  blacksmith 
whom  we  employed  rushed  out  of  his  cottage  as  we  passed, 
and  prostrated  himself  before  us,  crying,  '  He  is  gone,  he  is 
gone ;  now  has  he  departed.'  We  found  his  only  son,  a 
youth  of  fifteen,  had  just  died,  and  the  poor  man  was  in  utter 
despair.  This  is  heathenism.  The  Gospel  of  Jesus  would 
say  to  him,  '  Weep  not,  thy  child  is  not  dead  but  sleepeth 
but  heathens  are  without  hope,  because  they  are  without  God. 
Poor  Kali  goes  bowed  down,  and  sighing  heavily,  and  listens 
with  eagerness  to  all  I  tell  him,  while  his  heart  is  softened 
by  his  affliction.  He  has  received  a  deep  wound,  but  whether 
he  will  allow  it  to  be  healed  by  the  balm  of  Gilead,  I  know 
not." 

Such  a  scene,  as  that  just  described,  called  out  those  com- 
passionate feelings  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  possessed  in  so 
high  a  degree.  The  following  beautiful  letter  to  one  of  his 
children  exhibits  another  trait  in  his  character,  for  which  he 
was  no  less  remarkable,  namely,  firmness  and  decision,  com- 


FIRMNESS  AND  DECISION, 


341 


bined  with  meeimess  of  wisdom ;  for  as  one  of  his  brethren 
observed  of  him,  he  illustrated  2  Tim.  1  :  7  remarkably : 

^'August  2. —  0  my  dear  child  !  you  do  not  know  how 
much  we  desire  and  pray  that  you  may  become  good  and 
pious  ;  and  that  our  hearts  may  be  rejoiced  by  hearing  good 
accounts  of  you.  I  am  glad  you  seem  to  feel,  in  some  de- 
gree, that  you  are  not  always  as  you  should  be,  but  this  is  not 
enough  ;  you  must  be  in  earnest,  and  sincerely  endeavor  to 
lay  aside  what  is  wrong  in  you.  When  we  heard  that  yon 
had  been  giving  anxiety  to  your  kind  governess,  we  walked 
about  in  the  verandah,  and  talked  together  about  you.  We 
then  went  in  and  kneeled  down  and  prayed  most  earnestly 
that  God's  Holy  Spirit  might  reveal  to  you  the  evil  of  sin, 
and  change  your  heart  by  His  power.  Afterwards  we  felt 
that  the  Lord  had  allowed  us  to  hear  of  your  careless  con- 
duct to  humble  us,  and  to  lead  us  to  pray  more  earnestly 
and  continually  for  you  and  your  dear  brother,  and  we  said 
to  each  other,  what  an  easy  thing  it  would  be  to  the  Lord 
to  make  you  a  new  creature.  Now,  dear  child,  I  have  told 
you  what  your  papa  and  mamma  did  ;  more  we  can  not  do, 
except  to  write  with  paternal  affection  and  authority,  and  I 
hope  you  will  receive  this  letter  as  a  proof  of  our  tender 
love,  and  think  over  the  following  important  questions : 

"  1.  Did  you  ever  seriously  think  of  si/i,  what  it  is,  and 
that  those  who  commit  it  (or  who  sin  wilfully)  must  go  into 
everlasting  perdition  1 

"  2.  Can  you  be  happy  while  you  feel  you  are  a  great 
sinner,  or  do  you  not  fear  that  you  may  go  at  last  to  that 
awful  place — hell  ?    Can  a  disobedient  child  be  happy  1 

"  3.  Do  you  know  that  Jesus,  the  Son  oi  God,  came  from 
heaven,  became  a  poor  man,  died  like  a  malefactor,  and  shed 
His  precious  blood  for  you,  to  make  you  free  from  sin,  and 
deliver  you  from  condemnation  ?  As  He  has  so  loved 
you,  what  should  you  do  in  return  1  How  can  you  show 
your  love  to  Him  ? 


342         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

4.  Do  you  believe  that  those  children  who  feel  sorrow 
for  their  great  and  many  sins,  and  come  to  Him  with  faith 
and  prayer,  will  receive  forgiveness  and  peace  in  their  hearts  ? 
Why  do  you  not  go  and  ask  Him  for  that  precious  gift  ? 
Do  you  think  you  are  too  young  to  pray,  or  too  good  to 
want  a  Saviour  1 

"  5.  Have  you  ever  seriously  considered  that  there  will 
be  a  day  of  judgment,  at  which  you  and  all  men  will  have  to 
appear?  when  all  your  thoughts  will  be  laid  open,  and 
every  one  will  receive  the  reward  which  is  due  to  his 
works  1 

"Think  of  these  questions,  dear  child,  and  pray  over 
them.  We  pray  for  you  every  day,  but  you  must  pray 
for  yourself  You  are  the  child  of  a  missionary.  Your 
dear  parents  have  devoted  their  lives  to  the  blessed  work 
of  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel.  What  is  expected  of 
the  child  of  parents  so  employed  ?  Surely  that  she  should 
love  God's  cause,  and  give  as  much  as  she  can,  and  pray  for 
its  prosperity. 

"  May  the  Lord  Jesus  help  you  in  all  this,  and  bless 
you  !    Your  affectionate  father, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

On  the  19th  of  September  Mr.  Weitbrecht  again  left  home 
for  a  long  journey,  taking  Bancoorah  in  his  way,  and  even- 
tually passing  on  to  the  table-land  of  Chota  Nagpore.  It 
was  like  one  of  his  usual  missionary  excursions,  though  he 
had  several  special  objects  in  view  in  going  so  far.  The 
following  extracts  from  letters  to  his  wife  give  some  parti- 
culars of  parts  of  the  journey  : 

"  The  road  up  here  is  dreadful  beyond  any  thing  I  ever 
saw  before.  Six  times  the  bearers  threw  my  palanquin 
down  in  the  mud;  and  I  am  only  surprised  it  was  not 
broken.  I  was  a  whole  hour  in  crossing  the  river,  which 
was  full  from  bank  to  bank.   I  can  not  write  much,  my  head 


JOURNEYINGS. 


343 


is  &o  tired,  and  I  must  prepare  for  preaching.  *  *  *  *  The 
country  to-s^ards  Burkaghur  is  very  superior  to  any  thing  I 
have  ever  seen  in  Bengal ;  the  very  atmosphere  you  breathe 
makes  you  feel  that  you  are  in  an  elevated  position.  And 
then  the  beautiful  hills  around !  But  the  road  through  some 
of  the  jungles  is  very  trying  ;  and  how  the  poor  bearers 
got  over  those  stones,  up  and  down  the  creeks  and  ravines, 
was  to  me  quite  surprising.  I  crossed  two  large  rivers  on 
hollow  trees.  At  eleven  a.m.  we  had  divine  service,  and 
shall  have  it  again  in  the  evening.  Most  of  the  Europeans 
were  present,  and  the  German  missionaries  joined  us  at  the 
communion.*  I  hope  you  have  much  of  the  Lord's  gracious 
presence,  beloved  wife.  Kiss  my  darling  children  for  their 
absent  father." 

He  describes  some  parts  of  the  journey  more  particularly 
in  his  journal :  "  At  Jelda  the  scenery  begins  to  be  exceed- 
ingly beautiful.  The  road  leads  through  a  valley,  between 
a  range  of  hills  whicli  vary  much  in  shape  and  height.  In 
one  pretty  place  where  we  stopped,  we  were  surrounded  by 
wooded  hills  ;  and  here  Col.  O.  has  erected  a  bungalow  for  the 
accommodation  of  travellers.  I  observed  in  it  several  skins 
of  an  enormous  size— one  was  above  sixteen  feet  long.  They 
belonged  to  an  animal  of  the  Bos  genus,  which  lives  wild  in 
the  thick  jungles  hereabouts.  It  is  in  shape  like  the  bison  of 
America.  We  ascended  about  two  thousand  five  hundred 
feet  to  reach  Ranchee.  On  Tuesday  we  mounted  a  lovely 
hill  of  about  four  hundred  feet  near  our  dwelling :  the  view 
from  the  top  is  quite  a  panorama.  We  also  mounted 
another  called  '  The  Eocks,'  from'  the  broken  character  of 
the  soil  of  which  it  is  composed.  Oh !  for  such  a  hi]l  near 
our  mission-house  !  The  eternal  sameness  of  the  plains  is 
wearying  to  the  eye  and  depressing  to  the  spirits." 

He  further  describes  a  garden  which  seems  to  have  resem- 


*  Referred  to  in  a  former  chapter,  p.  300. 


344  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

bled  Eden  in  some  of  its  features,  for  it  abounded  in  trees 
that  were  "  pleasant  to  the  sight  and  good  for  food."  The 
tea  and  coffee  plants  were  peculiarly  healthy,  and  fine  walnut 
trees  grew  beside  them,  together  with  plants  of  many  other 
species ;  while  on  a  little  island  in  the  midst  of  a  pretty 
lake  with  which  the  grounds  were  adorned,  were  raspberry- 
bushes,  black  currants,  and  other  English  trees.  The  dah- 
lias were  in  perfect  flower,  and  the  effect  of  the  whole  scene 
was  quite  enchanting." 

He  records  many  of  his  usual  engagements  on  such  occa- 
sions, and  then  proceeds  to  describe  a  fine  forest  of  timber 
which  particularly  attracted  his  attention  on  his  way  back. 
"  I  walked  along,"  he  writes,  "  for  two  hours.  How  I  enjoy- 
ed it !  I  measured  some  of  the  trees  and  found  them  about 
seven  feet  in  circumference  near  the  base.  Such  a  forest  would 
be  valuable  property  if  there  were  any  roads  to  convey  the 
timber  away  ;  but  as  it  is,  the  people  told  me,  '  you  may 
have  a  tree  for  one  shilling.'  What  a  pity  it  seems  that  the 
rich  resources  of  this  vast  land  are  so  little  developed  !" 

"  December  4ih. — The  weather  is  delightful.  Our  garden 
is  full  of  English  flowers,  and  the  perfume  of  mignonette 
enters  at  every  open  door.  A  friend  says,  '  You  live  in  a 
little  earthly  paradise.  How  graciously  does  the  Lord 
temper  our  trials  with  mercies,  and  cause  roses  to  blossom 
though  He  surrounds  them  with  thorns !  A  letter  from  our 
kind  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Preston  of  Cheshunt,  announces 
that  the  presentation  to  Christ's  Hospital  is  secured  for  our 
boy.  Thus  the  Lord  is  merciful  as  well  as  gracious,  and 
provides  not  only  for  us,  but  for  our  seed  after  us. 

"  I  have  been  visiting  two  native  gentlemen,  and  found 
one  of  them  exceedingly  intelligent.  He  told  me  he  had 
read  the  Bible  to  discover  its  faults ;  but  that  the  result 
was,  he  admired  Christianity.  '  Your  religion,'  said  he, 
'  courts  investigation,  and  speaks  with  a  winning  voice.  Its 


TESTIMONY  TO  OUR  HOLY  FAITH. 


345 


precepts  are  unexceptionable,  and  it  has  made  its  way 
through  all  kinds  of  opposition.  It  is  not  the  creed  of  a 
class,  or  monopolized  by  a  priesthood  like  Hinduism,  but  it 
is  a  common  good  for  all.'  After  this  beautiful  testimony 
to  our  holy  faith,  he  began  to  speak  of  some  difficulties  he 
had  to  solve  with  regard  to  it.  '  I  have,'  said  he,  '  discover- 
ed a  great  deal  of  confusion  in  the  prophets ;  and  some 
strange  contradictions  in  that  mysterious  book  of  John,  call- 
ed Revelation.'  *  You  have  begun  at  the  wrong  end,'  re- 
plied I,  '  in  endeavoring  to  understand  prophecies  which  are 
not  yet  fulfilled.  If  you  place  a  book  of  geometry  before 
a  peasant,  he  is  not  likely  to  comprehend  the  diagrams ;  nor 
could  you  comprehend  the  working  of  a  steam-engine  at  the 
first  glance.  Prophecy  must,  of  necessity,  have  a  mysteri- 
ous character,  and  can  only  be  understood  in  its  fulfillment.' 
He  agreed  to  this,  and  I  proceeded,  '  If  you  see  such  excel- 
lency in  the  moral  part  of  the  Bible,  does  that  not  prove  its 
author  to  be  God  and  not  man  V  He  thought  some  very 
excellent  men  might  have  written  it ;  and  he  then  regretted 
that  our  native  Christians  generally  were  not  acute  logicians, 
or  clever  in  sustaining  metaphysical  arguments.  'It  would 
recommend  your  religion  much,'  said  he,  '  if  they  could  do 
this.'  '  The  holiness,  consistency,  and  purity  of  a  Christian's 
life,'  said  I,  '  form  the  most  powerful  argument  in  favor  of 
the  excellence  of  Christian  doctrine  ;  and  it  is  indebted  for 
its  success  to  this  cause,  far  more  than  it  is  to  the  logical 
arguments,  produced  in  its  favor  by  highly  gifted  and  intel- 
lectual persons.'  To  this  he  agreed,  but  was  still  unable  to 
understand,  how  a  person  could  change  his  religion,  without 
first  thoroughly  understanding  the  Bible,  and  making  a 
searching  comparison  between  it  and  Hinduism.  '  If, '  said 
I,  '  you  Avish  to  buy  a  house,  you  would  not  break  it  down 
to  examine  every  brick  and  timber  it  contained,  and  see  if 
all  were  perfect.  The  first  sight  of  it,  and  the  aspect  of  the 
15^ 


346  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

rooms  you  enter,  will  convince  you  as  to  its  being  a  suitable 
habitation.  So,  if  I  know  from  facts,  that  Brahmuns  are 
liars,  and  kept  up  Hinduism  for  their  private  interest ;  if  I 
have  ascertained  that  the  Shasters  contain  absurdities  and 
countenance  vice ;  whereas  Christianity  changes  and  im- 
proves the  heart,  and  teaches  us  to  address  a  holy  God  as 
our  Father,  then  there  is  sufficient  inducement  at  the  very 
outset  to  forsake  the  one  and  embrace  the  other.' 

"  My  friend  expressed  himself  highly  pleased  with  my 
visit,  and  our  conversation.  He  returned  it  very  soon,  and 
as  we  were  at  dinner  when  he  was  announced,  we  invited 
him  to  join  us  at  table,  which  he  did,  and  enjoyed  our  repast 
thoroughly." 

The  particulars  of  this  conversation  are  introduced,  to 
give  some  idea  of  a  class  of  Hindus,  who  are  frequently  met 
with  by  missionaries  in  Bengal. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  regiments, 
when  they  encamped  at  Burdwan  for  a  day  or  two,  and  his 
notes  of  these  occasions  are  sometimes  particularly  inter- 
esting. 

December  24:th. — He  writes,  "  I  went  to  see  the  soldiers 
encamped  on  the  parade  ground,  and  distributed  a  good 
many  tracts,  which  were  gladly  received.  The  corps  had 
but  lately  arrived  from  Ireland,  and  Mr.  Cuthbert,  who  was 
with  me,  spoke  a  word  of  exhortation  to  many.  After  sun- 
set, some  twenty  gathered  round  me,  and  I  addressed  them 
for  half  an  hour.  A  young  Scotchman  opened  his  heart  to 
me,  and  told  me  with  tears,  that  after  having  led  a  pious 
life  in  his  earlier  days,  he  had  relapsed,  and  he  feared  he 
was  a  reprobate.  The  intense  feeling  with  which  he  spoke, 
drove  the  perspiration  out  on  his  brow.  I  spoke  kindly  to 
him,  and  directed  him  to  the  Saviour,  who  was  ready  to  re- 
ceive him  in  mercy. 

"29//i — Another  regiment  encamped.    I  visited  all  the 


ANECDOTE  OF  A  CATHOLIC  PRIEST. 


347 


sick,  and  distributed  tracts  and  Testaments.  1  had  many 
encouraging  scenes ;  some  seemed  to  feel  the  truth  very 
much,  and  I  found,  to  my  great  joy,  a  few  pious  men  among 
the  soldiers. 

"  As  our  sale  answered  so  well  before,  we  repeated  it, 
and  were  equally  successful.  The  Rajah  purchased  300 
rupees'  worth  of  articles,  and  the  other  friends  in  propor- 
tion." 

The  anecdote  in  the  next  extract  will  interest  many  in 
this  day  of  Roman  Catholic  perversion  :  "  ZQth. — Our  dear 
brother  Haberlin  has  cheered  us  by  a  visit ;  his  wife  is  gone 
to  Europe  with  her  children,  and  he  feels  lonely.  He  relat- 
ed some  singular  anecdotes  which  threw  some  light  on  Roman 
Catholic  missions.  There  are  some  in  the  Dacca  district, 
where  Haberlin  is  now  at  work  ;  they  are  sent  out  by  the 
Lyons  Society,  and  receive  twenty-five  rupees  per  month  ! 
Of  course  they  must  make  money  by  every  possible  means, 
and  the  following  story  illustrates  some  of  those  they  adopt. 
A  priest  came  to  a  village,  where  many  Roman  Catholic 
families  of  native  Christians  reside.  He  told  them  that 
their  baptism  had  not  been  properly  performed,  and  that  to 
insure  their  salvation,  it  must  be  done  over  again.  Having 
convinced  them  of  this  fact,  he  bargained  with  them  about 
the  fee,  for  which  they  kept  him  in  treaty  all  day  long.  But 
the  terms  were  finally  settled,  and  the  money  of  course 
taken  in  advance,  which  is  certainly  the  only  safe  way  in 
dealing  with  Bengalis,  and  the  one  always  adopted  by  Brah- 
muns  and  native  physicians.  The  next  step  was,  to  invali- 
date their  marriage  ceremonies,  which  took  rather  longer  to 
agree  about,  but  at  last  was  satisfactorily  adjusted,  and  the 
priest  departed  from  the  village  with  a  large  sum  of  money. 
Alas  !  for  Christianity  under  the  influence  of  such  screw-pro- 
pellers !  Our  dear  brother  left  us  much  encouraged  by  his 
visit." 


348         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

We  have  purposely  omitted  in  this  chapter  much  detail 
of  missionary  itinerancies.  We  conclude  it  by  a  few  sen- 
tences from  the  Annual  Keport : 

"  We  are  still  called  on  to  labor  in  hope,  and  in  patience 
to  possess  our  souls.  The  missionary,  above  all  other  peo- 
ple, is  daily  made  aware  of  his  helplessness,  in  his  arduous 
struggles  with  the  hostile  elements  he  has  to  encounter." 
He  then  alludes  to  the  fact,  that  of  the  catechists  and  readers 
whom  he  found  on  his  first  arrival  at  Burdwan,  not  one  sur- 
vived. "  Some  eighty  persons  have  been  committed  to  the 
silent  grave,  since  the  commencement  of  this  mission.  Pre- 
cious seed-corn,  which  will  rise  to  be  gathered  into  the  Lord's 
garner,  on  His  great  day.  Our  catechists  are  very  practi- 
cal, useful,  and  devoted  preachers,  and  are  a  great  comfort  to 
me ;  and  many  of  our  people  do  indeed  walk  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord,  though  we  long  to  see  them  more  zealous  unto 
good  works.  We  have  introduced  some  scholarships  into 
our  English  schools ;  and  one  of  our  boys  lately  told  me, 
that  all  Hindus  allow,  that  every  lad  who  receives  an  educa- 
tion in  these  schools  becomes  a  better  man  morally.  Mr. 
Geidt  has  taken  charge  of  the  vernacular  schools,  and  de- 
votes his  whole  time  to  them,  and  there  is  every  hope  of 
their  thus  being  very  effective.  Two  adults  and  thirty-five 
children  have  been  baptized ;  and  nearly  £300  have  been 
collected  for  missionary  purposes." 


A  CHURCH  ON  THE  ROADSIDE. 


349 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Decides  on  Building  a  Church — Lays  the  Foundation-stone — Letters — 
Encouraging  Conversions — Death  of  Mr.  MacDonald — Other  Incidents 
— Death  of  Mrs.  Hill — Much  Sickness — Chamberlain's  Reflections — 
Letters  to  his  Children — Hindu  Legend — Receives  a  Tamily  into  his 
House — Extracts  from  Annual  Report. 

1847—1848. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  had  long  felt  a  desire  to  erect  a  substan 
tial  church  on  the  mission  premises,  which  was  required  for 
the  use  of  the  European  and  native  congregations.  An  ugly 
thatched  bungalow  was  the  only  place  of  worship  for  the 
latter ;  and  a  small  chapel,  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  mission-house,  for  the  former.  Both  these  buildings 
were  old  and  nearly  past  repair,  and  continual  inconvenience 
was  suffered  in  consequence.  He  therefore  set  seriously  to 
work  to  prepare  materials  for  a  new  church.  He  spared  no 
pains  and  trouble  in  effecting  his  object ;  and  gave  the  pro- 
fits of  his  little  work  on  Bengal  Missions,  as  the  commence- 
ment of  a  fund  for  it.  God  blessed  his  efforts,  and  he 
succeeded  in  raising  money  as  the  building  was  in  course 
of  erection,  to  cover  the  outlay  as  it  proceeded.  Every  little 
sum  that  could  be  spared  from  other  claims  he  devoted  to 
this  object.  When  he  began  to  build,  he  supposed  £700 
would  cover  all  expenses  ;  but  £1000  were  found  to  be 


350  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

necessary,  before  the  completion  of  the  building ;  for  sup- 
plying every  required  item,  including  the  pulpit  and  all  the 
internal  furniture.  This  was  a  large  sum  for  an  individual, 
situated  as  he  vsras,  to  bring  together  for  one  specific  purpose ; 
but  he  got  a  grant  of  £150  from  the  bishop's  Church  Build- 
ing Fund,  and  he  often  received  presents  from  Europeans, 
for  whom  he  performed  ministerial  services.  Besides  this, 
his  own  gentle  but  persuasive  and  persevering  appeals  drew 
repeated  donations  from  the  people  at  the  s-tation,  both  natives 
and  Europeans  ;  and  at  length  the  desired  object  was  fully 
effected.  A  little  Gothic  church  now  stands  on  the  roadside, 
"  greeting  the  eye  of  the  passing  traveller,  whose  simple 
and  unpretending  beauty  is  as  appropriate  a  local  monument 
of  himself,  as  could  have  been  devised,  had  it  been  planned 
for  such  a  purpose." 

Various  opinions  have  been  expressed  by  friends  of  mis- 
sions in  England,  in  reference  to  the  propriety  of  building  a 
church  with  an  attractive  exterior.  Some  reflections,  very 
painful  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  feelings,  were  made  upon  him 
for  doing  it ;  but  in  India,  where  splendid  temples  and 
mosques  appear  in  every  direction,  and  where  the  import- 
ance of  a  substantial  erection  is  so  well  understood,  but  one 
opinion  prevailed  among  the  people  who  understood  the  coun- 
try and  the  character  of  its  inhabitants.  He  had  often  heard 
Christians  reproached  by  the  Brahmuns  on  this  very  point. 
It  was  said,  that  while  rich  Hindus  did  not  hesitate  to  expend 
thousands  of  rupees  on  temples  and  mosques.  Christians 
were  content  to  worship  in  a  place,  which  was  scarcely 
decent  in  its  outward  appearance,  and  from  which  the  con- 
gregation was  sometimes  driven  in  the  middle  of  the  service, 
during  the  periodical  rains,  from  the  unsound  state  of  the 
roof  As  the  building  belonged  to  government,  no  private 
effort  could  be  made  to  put  it  in  repair ;  and  indeed,  it  was 


KIND  OF  CHURCHES  REQUIRED  IN  INDIA.  351 

in  so  unsound  a  state,  as  to  be  unworthy  of  the  necessary 
outlay  to  do  this. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  a  country  where  society 
is  constituted  as  it  is  in  India,  where  the  taste  of  the  people 
is  for  outward  show  and  display,  and  their  respect  for  the 
character  of  our  religion  is  much  increased  by  observing  that 
which  we  manifest  towards  it,  which  they  judge  of  chiefly  by 
externals — it  is  not  out  of  place  to  raise  a  building  for  the 
worship  of  the  God  of  heaven,  which  is  outwardly  pleasing 
to  the  eye.  It  is  true,  that  it  is  no  part  of  the  duty  of  a 
missionary  society  to  expend  their  funds  in  this  way ;  but 
the  money  contributed  by  rich  natives  and  others  towards 
this  church,  was  not  withdrawn  from  any  more  important 
object  by  being  appropriated  to  this  ;  and  the  cost  was  not 
greater  than  was  requisite  to  erect  a  strong  and  durable  edi- 
fice, without  reference  to  architectural  beauty.  If,  as  was 
really  the  case,  this  could  be  had  without  additional  expense, 
it  was  thought  desirable,  that  beauty  and  gracefulness  should 
be  added  to  its  more  essential  qualities.  The  climate  of 
Bengal  soon  destroys  that  which  is  not  solid  in  its  structure ; 
and  part  of  a  church  which  was  built  in  the  Krishnaghur  dis- 
trict in  1841,  fell  down  a  few  years  after,  and  finally  the 
whole  had  to  be  taken  down  and  reerected,  because,  in  the 
wish  to  build  a  cheap  edifice,  (it  cost  about  £400,)  durability 
was  lost  sight  of.  These  remarks  are  simply  made  to  render 
it  apparent  to  those  friends,  who  might  be  disposed  to  ques- 
tion the  propriety  of  the  erection  of  the  Burdwan  church,  that 
this,  like  many  other  subjects,  assumes  a  new  light,  when 
viewed  from  a  point  diverse  to  that  in  which  it  first  struck 
the  mind  of  the  observer.  Mr.  Weitbrecht  refers  to  the 
commencement  of  this  undertaking,  in  the  following  para- 
graph of  his  journal : 

'■^ March  bth. — In  the  evening,  we  had  the  solemnity  of  lay- 
ing the  foundation-stone  of  the  proposed  new  church.  Our 


352         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


three  brethren,  the  European  residents,  and  the  native 
Christians,  were  all  present,  and  after  singing  a  hymn,  led 
by  Mr.  Schurr,  beginning — 

'  Thou  whose  Almighty  word 

Chaos  and  darkness  heard, 

And  took  their  flight ! 
Hear  us,  we  humbly  pray, 
And  where  the  Gospel's  day 
Sheds  not  its  glorious  ray, 

Let  there  be  light' — 

I  delivered  a  suitable  address.  We  then  let  down  the  stone, 
depositing  a  writing  on  parchment  in  the  north-eastern  corner, 
descriptive  of  the  ceremony.  We  also  deposited  a  bottle 
with  coins.  The  singing  was  touching  and  beautiful.  We 
gave  the  name  of  Christ  Church  to  our  intended  edifice." 

To  Mrs.  Muir. 

"BuRDWAN,  21th  May,  1847. 
"  A  fortnight  ago  I  was  at  Calcutta,  to  join  my  brethren  at 
our  conference,  when  I  paid  a  visit,  one  afternoon,  to  your 
excellent  missionaries,  Messrs.  Herdman  and  Ogilvie.  They 
had  just  finished  their  daily  labor  in  the  schools ;  it  was  one 
of  those  hot  days,  when  the  thermometer  is  110°  in  the 
shade,  and  both  these  dear  brethren  appeared  to  be  much 
exhausted.  It  is  hard  work  indeed,  to  be  engaged  for  three 
hours  and  upwards  among  from  seven  to  eight  hundred  boys, 
in  such  an  atmosphere.  I  was  struck  by  the  change  in  Mr. 
Herdman.  When  I  saw  him  after  his  arrival  in  Calcutta, 
he  was  in  all  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  youth ;  now  he  looks 
so  pale,  and  thin,  and  worn  out,  that  I  entertained  some 
fear  of  his  being  able  to  stand  this  climate  for  any  length 
of  time.  But  I  recollected  that  exactly  such  was  my  appear- 
ance, after  laboring  a  year  or  two  in  Bengal.    When  Euro- 


ACCOUNT  OF  SCHOOLS. 


353 


peans  are  once  fairly  acclimated,  they  recover  their  lost  flesh, 
and  assume  a  healthy  appearance,  though  the  freshness  and 
bloom  of  youth  may  return  no  more.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Weitbrecht 
has  forty-one  girls  in  her  orphan  school,  and  many  of  them 
give  her  joy.  Her  English  class  consists  of  six  superior  girls, 
who  promise  to  become  effective  teachers.  These  classes 
are  chiefly  taught  by  females  thus  brought  up.  I  have  six 
youths  in  our  boarding-school,  who  will,  I  hope,  all  become 
teachers  and  catechists.  Rabee  continues  to  carry  on  her 
infant  school  of  fifty  children,  to  our  great  satisfaction.  It  is 
of  vital  importance  to  our  mission,  to  train  up  a  band  of 
native  catechists  and  teachers.  I  therefore  spend,  every 
morning,  from  three  to  four  hours  among  our  young  people. 
Had  our  venerable  brethren  in  the  last  century,  who  labored 
so  successfully  in  the  south  of  India,  bestowed  more  atten- 
tion on  this  object,  their  missions  would  not  have  fallen  off 
so  lamentably.  They  seem  to  have  trusted  too  much  to 
half  converted  and  half-educated  persons,  who  kept  up  all  the 
distinctions  of  caste. 

"  Your  aflectionate  note  called  to  remembrance  our  visit 
to  Edinburgh  in  all  its  freshness.  It  is  now  three  years 
since  we  passed  those  happy  hours  with  you.  So  we  hasten 
onward  to  our  eternal  home.  I  sometimes  wish  ardently  to 
pay  you  a  visit  again ;  but  the  Lord  willeth  otherwise,  and 
the  Christian's  true  happiness  is  to  be  where  He  has  sent 
us,  and  to  fulfill  the  work  He  has  given  us  to  do.  May  we, 
each  in  his  own  post,  be  faithful  stewards !  With  affectionate 
remembrances  to  Dr.  Muir,  I  am,  your  cordial  friend, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

After  the  setting  in  of  the  rains,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  proceeded 
on  one  of  his  usual  excursions,  and  took  one  of  his  children 
with  him  to  Bancoorah,  to  visit  some  little  friends.  They 
halted  on  the  road,  where  the  residence  of  Europeans  per- 
mitted, and  we  observe  in  his  journal  a  characteristic  remark 


354  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

on  a  peculiar  kind  of  rice,  which  was  shown  him  by  a  gen- 
tleman, at  whose  house  he  slept  one  night :  "  Mr.  A.  showed 
me  some  rice  which,  when  growing,  always  keeps  its  head 
above  the  water,  let  it  rise  ever  so  high.  A  good  lesson 
this  for  tried  missionaries  in  a  heathen  land."  His  happy, 
buoyant  spirit  enabled  him  to  take  encouragement  from 
every  trifling  incident  in  his  daily  course ;  the  rice  was  a 
true  emblem  of  himself. 

The  following  remarks,  on  a  very  important  subject,  occur 
in  a  letter  of  this  date.  His  opinions  on  the  point  alluded 
to  were  very  decided  : 

'-'•June^  1847. — One  of  our  missionary  societies  has  cut 
down  the  salary  of  their  missionaries  to  £5  a  month  ;  but 
they  will  find  out  their  mistake  ere  long.  A  missionary  in 
India  can  not  live  for  that.  Our  friends  sometimes  run 
away  with  the  idea,  that  saving  rupees  upon  their  laborers 
is  economy.  If  it  is  so,  it  is  an  economy  that  costs  more 
in  the  long  run.  I  have  seen  this  repeatedly  in  my  mission- 
ary life  in  India." 

In  the  journal  of  July,  he  makes  some  remarks  on  the 
death  of  a  young  man,  to  whom  and  to  whose  wife,  intercourse 
with  the  mission  family  had  proved  very  useful.  The  wife 
had  been  in  a  Sunday-school  before  her  marriage,  conducted 
by  Mrs.  Weitbrecht,  and,  a  few  years  later,  was  aroused  to  a 
deep  sense  of  her  sinful  state,  in  the  little  chapel  at  Burdwan, 
under  a  sermon  delivered  by  Mr.  Greenwood.  She  was  after- 
wards led  to  Christ  as  her  Saviour,  and  lived  a  quiet,  consist- 
ent life,  training  her  children  in  the  right  way.  Her  eldest 
girl  died  at  the  age  of  seven,  a  bright  example  of  early 
piety.  Her  childlike  expressions  of  faith  and  love  to  J esus, 
during  her  illness,  affected  all  who  heard  them,  even  the 
native  doctor  who  attended  her,  though  a  bigoted  Brahmun. 
The  death  of  this  little  girl  was  greatly  sanctified  to  the 
mother,  drawing  her  heart  nearer  to  God  and  to  heaven. 
The  father  too  became  very  tender  in  spirit,  and,  after  read- 


DEWDROPS  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 


355 


mg  Cecil's  "  Visit  to  the  House  of  Mourning,"  which  had 
been  given  to  him  in  his  affliction,  the  Divine  Comforter  so 
wrought  upon  his  heart,  that  he  also  believed  to  the  saving 
of  his  soul.  The  wife  ripened  apace  for  a  better  world,  and 
followed  her  child  to  glory  in  less  than  a  year.  This  work 
of  grace  was  a  great  encouragement  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  and 
a  remarkable  illustration  of  the  indirect  effect  of  missionary 
influence  and  labor.  He  refers  to  the  death  of  the  father, 
which  took  place  a  few  years  later,  in  the  following  extract 
from  his  journal : 

"  Poor  Mr.  R.  died  at  Chinsurah  of  heart  complaint ;  his 
last  days  were  spent  in  severe  bodily  agony,  but  he  prayed 
much  in  his  sickness,  and  evidently  clung  to  Jesus  while 
heart  and  flesh  were  failing.  Poor  fellow !  he  often  expressed 
a  wish  to  have  us  by  his  bedside,  but  no  doubt  the  Saviour 
himself  was  present  with  His  sinking  servant." 

August. — This  month  we  find  another  delightful  record  : 
"  I  have  lately  received  some  very  encouraging  letters  from 
my  fatherland.  Two  of  my  nieces  tell  me,  that  my  visit  to 
S.  in  1843  was  made  instrumental  to  their  conversion. 
Their  letters  show,  that  there  is  a  real  work  of  grace  going 
on  in  their  hearts.  Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul!  These 
are  cheering  dew-drops  in  this  spiritual  wilderness." 

These  young  women,  daughters  of  two  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
elder  brothers,  are  now  settled  in  life,  mothers  and  heads  of 
families,  and  continue  in  the  faith  grounded  and  settled. 
The  circumstance  was  a  matter  of  peculiarly  thankful  re- 
membrance with  him  to  his  last  day ;  for  his  love  to  the 
various  members  of  his  own  family  was  remarkably  tender 
and  fervent.  He  adds :  "  I  heard  of  the  riots  at  Stuttgart ; 
these  are  new  features  of  the  times,  showing  that  a  dark  spi- 
rit of  the  deep,  hitherto  unknown,  is  abroad  among  the  peo- 
ple. The  contagion  has  evidently  spread  from  the  Commu- 
nists and  Socialists  in  Switzerland." 


356  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

"  The  last  night  in  August,  that  holy-minded  man  of  God, 
our  brother  Macdonald,  passed  from  earth  to  heaven.  He 
died  of  fever,  which  caused  congestion  of  the  brain ;  he  be- 
came unconscious  before  knowing  he  was  seriously  ill,  and 
awoke  in  glory  without  seeing  death.  He  was  eminently 
ready,  and  for  him  to  die  was  gain ;  but  it  is  a  severe  be- 
reavement for  the  widow  and  seven  children,  as  well  as  an 
irreparable  loss  for  the  Hindus.  During  that  night  my  dear 
wife  too  was  in  agonizing  pain,  caused  by  the  forming  of  an 
abscess.  It  distressed  me  exceedingly  to  see  her  sufferings, 
and  after  making  many  attempts  to  relieve  her,  I  turned  to 
the  Lord  and  cried  earnestly  to  Him,  reminding  Him  that 
He  was  a  Physician  for  both  body  and  soul.  While  thus 
wrestling  in  prayer,  like  the  Canaanitish  woman,  I  looked 
around,  and  the  poor  sufferer  had  fallen  asleep.  So  does 
Jesus  help  in  our  extremity.  May  this  new  experience  be 
treasured  up  as  a  memento  of  His  great  goodness  to  me  !  A 
distressing  weakness  followed  the  lancing  of  the  abscess,  and 
I  have  been  so  unwell  myself,  that  I  have  had  many  a  serious 
thought  of  what  may  be  at  hand,  and  feel  I  can  only  repose 
my  soul  on  Christ,  and  fix  my  hope  on  Him  as  an  all-suffi- 
cient Saviour.  May  I  receive  the  childlike  spirit  to  rest  in 
His  arms  ! " 

The  following  paragraph  is  from  a  letter  of  this  date  to 
Mr.  Venn :  "A  few  weeks  ago  I  baptized  a  married  couple, 
and  we  entreat  the  Lord  for  more  ere  long.  A  few  direct 
conversions  from  the  preached  Word  would  encourage  me 
exceedingly.  When  well,  I  feel  cheerful,  confident,  and  hap- 
py ;  but  when  the  tabernacle  of  clay  is  quivering  and  weak, 
the  mind  involuntarily  sympathizes  with  it,  and  every  trial 
appears  heavy ;  especially  our  great  trial,  the  hope  deferred 
of  the  conversion  of  the  Hindus.  Oh !  how  often  have  I 
poured  out  my  heart  before  Him  who  seeth  in  secret,  in  the 
stillness  of  the  night,  when  the  little  ones  are  asleep  !  Sure- 


corrie's  life. 


357 


ly  He  will  hear  and  answer,  and  this  mission,  which  has  been 
sanctified  by  so  many  prayers  and  tears,  will  bear  much 
fruit. 

"  We  are  now  reading  in  the  evening  Corrie's  Life  ;  it  is 
delightful  to  us  who  knew  that  man  of  God  Writ- 
ing the  life  of  such  a  man  resembles  the  sketching  of  a  beau- 
tiful rivulet  in  a  fertile  valley ;  the  picture,  with  its  charm- 
ing scenery,  should  be  painted  by  one  who  walked  with  him 
along  the  banks,  and  traced  its  fertilizing  effects  as  it  passed 
on  its  onward  course,  with  a  heart  to  feel  and  a  taste  to  en- 
joy the  beauty." 

In  the  middle  of  September,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  left  home 
to  speak,  as  he  says,  "  a  word  of  my  Saviour's  love  to  the 
natives."  He  met  with  a  Brahmun  on  the  road,  in  the  act 
of  eating  parched  rice.  He  recognized  the  face,  and  found, 
on  entering  into  conversation,  that  the  man  had  been,  as  a 
little  boy,  in  his  mission-school,  when  first  he  settled  at 
Burdwan.  "  And  now,"  said  he,  "  you  have  gray  hair,  and 
you  look  careworn."  "  Yes,"  replied  the  man,  with  a  forced 
smile,  "  I  am  getting  old,  and  the  world  is  full  of  care." 
"  Do  you  not  know  where  care  can  be  exchanged  for  peace, 
contentment,  and  joyf  " Where f  "With  Him  who 
said, '  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest.'  "  The  man  recollected  these  as 
the  words  of  Jesus.  "Well,"  said  the  missionary,  "He 
has  now  met  you  once  more  in  mercy,  with  the  gracious 
offers  of  His  Gospel."  "  But,"  replied  he,  "  are  your  people 
free  from  trouble  and  sorrow  1 "  "  His  heart  seemed  harden- 
ed; and  the  wi-etched,  hopeless,  abject  condition  of  these 
Bengali  Brahmuns  engaged  my  mind  for  hours.  I  read 
Henry  Martyn's  Life,  which  corresponded  with  my  inner- 
most feelings,  and  gave  me  much  comfort.  We  will  continue 
to  sow  in  hope,  imitating  the  husbandman,  who  has  long  pa- 
tience until  he  receive  the  early  and  the  latter  rain." 


358  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WIETCHBRECHT. 


During  the  month  of  October  there  was  much  sickness  in 
the  congregation.  All  the  most  useful  and  valuable  people 
were  laid  up  with  a  trying  fever  ;  and  Mr.  Weitbrecht  felt 
concerned  for  the  very  great  fatigue  and  anxiety  which  devolv- 
ed on  his  wife  during  his  continual  excursions.  Circumstances 
like  these  try  the  faith  of  the  true-hearted  missionary,  more 
perhaps  than  any  other.  On  one  hand,  he  feels  that  he  must 
be  about  his  Master's  business ;  on  the  other,  that  his  pre- 
sence at  home  seems  almost  indispensable.  His  clear  per- 
ception of  duty,  and  wise  discernment  of  the  path  in  which 
it  lay,  was  remarkably  apparent  at  such  times.  He  com- 
mitted those  most  dear  to  him  to  the  care  of  the  ever-faith- 
ful Shepherd,  and  pursued  his  own  straightforward  course, 
much  as  it  sometimes  crossed  his  natural  inclinations.  Very 
tenderly  did  he  fulfill  the  domestic  relations  in  which  he 
stood  ;  but  he  dared  not  forget  his  high  and  holy  vocation. 
He  entered  into  the  view  expressed  by  the  apostolic  Cham- 
berlain, "the  prince  of  preaching  missionaries  in  Bengal," 
who,  when  going  forth  on  a  tour,  oppressed  with  a  heavy 
weight  of  domestic  afflictions,  said  :  "  I  am  so  fully  satisfied 
with  my  situation  that  I  would  not  change  it  for  that  of  the 
greatest  emperor  in  the  world  ;  nay,  I  sometimes  think  not 
even  for  that  of  an  angel  in  heaven.  Oh !  what  a  prospect ! 
— a  preacher  of  the  Gospel — not  to  hundreds  or  to  thousands 
but  to  myriads  of  immortal  souls  now  covered  with  the 
grossest  darkness  !  I  may  not  live  to  see  the  work  of  con- 
version greatly  prosper,  but  I  am  firmly  persuaded  that  it 
will  do  so ;  a;nd  to  be  able  only  to  begin  a  work  which  shall 
finally  succeed,  and  issue  in  the  everlasting  salvation  of  an 
innumerable  multitude  of  souls,  fills  me  with  inexpressible 

joy." 

In  November  he  records  the  birth  of  a  little  boy,  who,  he 
prays,  "  may  become  a  lamb  of  Christ's  flock."  The  event 
took  place  under  very  trying  circumstances,  no  proper  at- 


LETTER   TO  HIS  SON. 


359 


tendance  being  procurable  ;  and  the  season  of  suffering  was 
a  protracted  one.  But  it  was  on  occasions  of  this  kind  that 
his  unwavering  faith  in  divine  power  to  help  stood  out  so 
prominently,  and  sustained  not  only  his  own  mind,  but  that 
of  her  who  leaned  on  him  for  support. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  he  hailed,  with  his  usual 
spirit  of  thankful  joy,  a  new  instance  of  the  loving  kindness 
of  the  Lord — a  valuable  maid-servant  arriving  from  England, 
sent  out  by  Mrs.  Weitbrecht's  sister  to  take  charge  of  his 
children,  who  proved  a  singular  comfort  in  the  mission  family 
for  three  years.  Before  her  arrival  he  had  himself  nursed 
his  little  girl  through  a  trying  illness,  besides  attending  to 
his  daily  duties. 

A  short  letter  of  this  date,  to  one  of  his  children,  follows : 

''Nov.  4, 1847. 

"  My  Dear  Boy  :  We  remembered  you  on  your  birth- 
day, and  mamma  and  I  prayed  for  you.  You  must  know 
that  we  earnestly  desire  you  may  become  a  pious  little  boy, 
like  Samuel  and  Timothy,  who  loved  the  Lord  in  their 
childhood,  and  afterwards  became  holy  men  and  devoted 
their  whole  lives  to  His  service.  Your  brother  and  sister 
often  look  at  your  picture  and  repeat  your  name  with  de- 
light. If  Mary  were  permitted,  she  would  kiss  the  portrait 
many  times  every  day.  Rabee  is  very  sick ;  but  all  her 
fear  of  death  is  taken  away,  because  she  has  been  cleansed 
from  sin  by  the  blood  of  Jesus.  What  a  blessing  it  is,  my 
dear  boy,  to  believe  in  Jesus  !  I  hope  you  will  give  your 
heart  to  Him. 

"  Last  week  I  caught  a  poisonous  snake  with  a  frog  in  its 
mouth,  whose  hind  feet  were  still  hanging  out.  The  snake 
was  in  a  helpless  condition,  so  I  could  easily  slip  it  into  a 
bottle  filled  with  spirits  of  wine,  to  join  a  large  scorpion 
which  I  caught  with  twenty  young  ones  it  was  carrying  on 
its  back. 


360         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


"  Now,  my  dear  boy,  I  will  conclude.  Do  not  forget  or 
neglect  to  kneel  down  sometimes  alone,  and  pray  for  us ; 
and  open  your  heart  to  Jesus,  for  he  is  the  best  friend  of 
children,  and  loves  to  hear  them  pray.  It  was  Jesus  who 
said  :  '  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'  Your  affection- 
ate papa,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

On  this  journey  he  was  again  attacked  in  his  tent  as  he 
had  been  in  January,  but  less  severely  ;  "so  that,"  he  says, 
"  I  have  every  reason  to  consider  each  new  day  of  my  life 
as  a  new  gift  of  divine  mercy,  to  enable  me  to  prepare  for 
heaven."  A  few  days  later  he  suffered  again  from  a  similar 
seizure,  and  speaks  of  praying  most  earnestly  for  the  Lord's 
presence,  for  the  restlessness  and  oppression  were  very 
distressing.  God  graciously  heard  him,  and  delivered  him 
out  of  this  trouble  also.    (Ps.  34  :  17.) 

While  still  feeling  languid  from  the  effects  of  these  repeat- 
ed indispositions,  he  was  summoned  hortie  on  account  of  the 
serious  illness  of  his  babe.  As  he  was  on  his  journey,  he  felt 
sad  and  sorrowful,  and  besought  the  Lord  for  an  assurance 
from  Himself  of  His  nearness,  and  he  prayed  much  for  his 
loved  ones.  The  beautiful  text  was  given  him :  "  Can  a 
mother  forget  her  sucking  child,  that  she  shall  not  have 
compassion  on  the  son  of  her  womb  '?  Yea,  she  may  forget ; 
yet  will  I  never  forget  thee.''''  "It  was  like  a  refreshing 
shower  to  the  parched  ground,"  he  adds,  "  and  my  heart  was 
comforted." 

He  refers  to  this  and  other  points  of  interest  to  him  in  the 
extracts  from  various  letters  which  follow  : 

"  Last  week,  when  I  was  about  one  hundred  miles  distant 
from  home  on  a  missionary  tour,  our  infant  was  taken  alarm- 
ingly ill.  My  wife  sent  out  several  messengers  in  the  hope 
of  finding  me,  but  she  did  not  know  exactly  where  I  was 
most  likely  to  be.    It  was  a  trying  position  to  her,  for  she 


GENERAL  IMPRESSION  AMONG  THE  HINDUS.  361 

was  without  a  medical  friend,  and  in  weak  health  herself. 
It  was  three  days  before  I  was  found.  One  of  our  servants  had 
walked  about  one  hundred  miles  in  the  direction  he  thought 
I  was,  and  did  not  succeed.  I  found  the  babe  alive,  but  he  is 
still  suffering,  and  I  have  suffered  also.  Last  Monday  I  was 
called  up  at  midnight,  to  a  poor  woman  laboring  under  a 
dreadful  attack  of  cholera.  She  was  lying  in  a  filthy  sheep- 
stable,  and  her  spasms  were  most  severe.  The  vitiated  air 
immediately  affected  me,  and  I  felt  approaching  symptoms 
of  the  disorder.  The  use  of  efficient  remedies  was  blessed, 
but  I  became  very  weak,  and  still  feel  the  effect  in  every 
limb  ;  the  poor  woman  also  recovered.  What  a  mercy  to 
know  that  our  times  are  in  the  Lord's  hands,  and  that  not  a 
moment  earlier  than  He  has  decreed,  shall  I  be  called  away 
from  the  scene  of  my  missionary  labors !  The  Hindus 
have  lately  held  a  meeting  to  devise  means  for  putting 
down  all  missionary  exertions,  but  they  will  not  succeed, 
and  their  impotent  efforts  will  only  expose  their  feebleness. 
Our  good  brother  Smith  is  on  his  way  from  Benares,  and 
will  shortly  embark  for  England.  He  has  labored  on  with- 
out fainting,  and  deserves  to  be  held  in  high  esteem  and 
honor,  for  the  number  of  those  who  do  this  is  compara- 
tively very  small. 

"  The  general  impression  among  all  classes  of  Hindus  is, 
that  their  old  creed  will,  ere  long,  be  superseded  by  Christ- 
ianity. Even  the  simple  peasants  entertain  this  idea.  I 
found  it  so  among  the  villages  in  the  western  jungles,  where 
I  have  lately  been,  as  well  as  in  our  densely-peopled  low- 
lands. It  reminds  me  of  the  feelings  of  the  Canaanites, 
when  the  Israelites  were  approaching  the  borders  of  their 
land,  and  doubtless  it  is  produced  by  the  same  power. 
They  see  that  the  Lord  is  on  our  side.  May  the  glorious 
conquest  soon  be  made !  We,  like  the  Israelites,  have  been 
long  wandering  in  the  wilderness,  waiting  for  the  Lord's 
16 


362  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

command  to  take  possession  of  the  land.  I  believe  future 
years  are  pregnant  with  blessings  for  India,  and  the  Lord 
will  ripen  the  seed  now  sowing  into  an  abundant  harvest, 
but  we  must  have  grace  to  watch  and  to  wait — yet  to  perse- 
vere. If  I  am  permitted  to  labor  five  or  six  years  more,  I 
shall  be  content  to  be  put  into  a  glass  case,  feeling  content 
with  the  share  I  have  been  allowed  to  take  in  the  glorious 
conflict. 

"  Give  my  very  kind  regards  to  E. ;  tell  her  to  '  beware 
of  blooming  idols  in  white  frocks.'  A  rough  wind  some- 
times arises  and  quickly  blasts  the  lovely  form.  It  re- 
quires much  grace  to  love  a  child,  and  yet  not  to  cling  to 
the  creature  unduly.  My  own  little  girl  is  a  most  winning 
child,  and  so  fond  of  her  papa,  that  she  will  hardly  eat  her 
meals  if  she  can  not  sit  by  my  side. 

"  Farewell !  Our  babe's  illness  continues  very  serious. 
So  comes  wave  upon  wave,  till  the  last  will  convey  our 
fragile  bark  safe  to  Canaan's  shore." 

It  was  during  1847,  that  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  in  the  true  spirit 
of  a  missionary  brother,  received  into  his  house  a  German 
school-master,  with  his  wife  and  child.  These  good  people 
had  been  sent  out  by  those  who  had  certainly  more  zeal 
than  discretion,  to  fill  a  sphere  not  properly  defined,  and 
found  themselves,  on  their  arrival  in  India,  without  resources 
and  without  a  home.  They  were  brought  to  his  notice,  and 
thankfully  accepted  his  invitation  to  reside  in  his  family,  till 
they  could  be  united  with  a  society.  They  were  excellent 
and  devoted  people,  who  are  now  filling  a  sphere  of  useful- 
ness in  Bengal,  and  connected  with  the  Church  Missionary 
Society.  They  resided  in  the  mission-house  for  many  months, 
and  retain  to  this  day,  a  most  lively  and  grateful  impression 
of  the  Christian  kindness  and  love,  which  prompted  him  to 
take  them  in,  and  to  supply  all  their  wants.  "Surely," 
wrote  they,  when  they  heard  of  his  removal,  "  the  Lord 


BROTHERLY  LOVE. 


363 


will  put  another  jewel  into  his  crown,  for  all  he  did  for  us  in 

the  day  of  our  distress." 

The  following  simple  record  of  this  Christian  act,  from 
their  own  pen,  was  sent  by  them  to  Mrs.  Weitbrecht : 

"  We  came  as  strangers  and  pilgrims  into  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
house  nearly  six  years  ago,  and  we  shall  never  forget  our 
meeting.  He  welcomed  us  in  such  a  heart-winning  tone,  that 
he  gained  our  confidence  at  once.  He  knew  we  had  no  home, 
no  money,  and  no  friends,  and  he  at  once  invited  us  to  stay 
in  his  house,  sajdng,  '  You  are  unacquainted  with  this  coun- 
try, and  will  have  much  trouble ;  remain  with  us,  we  will 
consider  you  as  our  friends,  and  will  do  for  you  all  we  can.' 
This  we  hesitated  to  do  at  once,  but  he  never  forgot  his 
promise,  and,  some  time  after,  we  accepted  his  offer,  with 
much  praise  to  the  Lord,  that  He  had  providentially  made 
us  known  to  this  good  and  generous  friend.  We  lived  as 
part  of  his  family  for  six  months ;  he  cared  for  all  our 
wants,  and  did  more  than  we  expected.  He  was  always  the 
same  to  us,  and  it  was  beautiful  to  see  him  in  his  family. 
While  we  were  with  him,  a  little  son  was  born,  and  we  wit- 
nessed his  praises  and  thanksgivings  to  his  heavenly  Father 
for  the  precious  gift.  He  loved  his  children  tenderly,  and 
prayed  with  them  daily ;  they  were  indeed  his  treasures. 
He  also  instructed  them ;  and  when  we  were  all  assembled 
as  one  family  on  the  Sabbath  evening  he  never  seemed 
tired,  although  he  had  been  preaching  twice,  but  sung  with 
them,  and  read  and  explained  the  Scripture,  and  then  prayed. 
He  did  the  same  every  other  evening  after  tea.  He  often 
encouraged  our  faith,  when  he  saw  us  cast  down,  and  tried 
to  make  us  feel  that  he  felt  us  no  burden,  and  that  the  Lord 
would  help  us,  and  bring  us  through  all  our  trials.  When 
his  dear  child  was  so  ill,  that  he  had  to  take  him  away,  and 
soon  after  to  lay  him  in  his  grave,  he  did  not  forget  us  who 
were  left  in  sorrow  at  Burdwan,  but  spoke  to  many  kind 


364         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

friends,  and  got  so  much  help  for  us,  that  when  he  came 
back  he  set  us  up  in  a  house  of  our  own,  where  we  remained 
till  our  ungrateful  hearts  made  us  wish  to  leave,  though  he 
entreated  us,  and  prayed  with  us,  and  counselled  us  not  to 
be  impatient.  Even  after  we  were  gone  he  continued  his 
kind  and  generous  help,  and  was  our  best  friend  to  the  end  of 
his  life.  Who  can  say  what  we  felt  when  we  heard  he  was 
gone !  The  pen  can  not  record  the  recollections  that  fill  our 
minds  of  this  holy  and  devoted  man  of  God,  who  was  in 
every  thing  a  Christian,  and  in  every  thing  a  missionary. 
All  his  kind  acts  towards  us  remind  us  of  a  chain  ever  length- 
ening ;  he  was  continually  adding  new  links  to  it,  and  now 
that  he  is  gone,  it  seems  to  reach  to  heaven.  If  we  meet  him 
there,  we  shall  see  it  added  to  his  crown,  and  making  him 
shine  like  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever." 

The  following  are  extracts  from  his  Eeport  of  the  Mis- 
sion :  "  Several  children  have  died  during  the  year,  all  un- 
der ten  years.  One  of  these  was  brought  to  us  in  J anuary 
by  a  poor  woman,  who  said  she  was  a  Sikh,  and  was  going 
to  Benares.  The  child  was  not  her  own,  but  her  mother 
had  died.  She  was  going  to  take  her  to  a  rich  Mussulman ; 
but  the  child  said, '  Take  me  to  a  Christian  lady.'  She  then 
inquired  for  a  Padre  Sahib,  and  was  directed  to  the  mission- 
house.  On  the  child  being  asked,  if  she  would  like  to  stop 
with  us,  she  said, '  With  you  ?  Oh !  yes.'  The  woman  then 
kissed  her,  lifted  up  her  voice  and  wept,  and  went  on  her 
way.  The  poor  child  was  diseased,  but  by  much  care  was 
kept  alive  for  two  months,  and  displayed  a  very  intelligent 
disposition.  When  we  began  to  speak  to  her  of  Jesus  and 
His  love  to  children,  her  heart  seemed  at  once  drawn  to  Him, 
and  the  bright  smile  on  her  face,  when  any  one  sat  down  to 
talk  with  her  of  heavenly  things,  was  beautiful.  She  learn- 
ed the  Lord's  prayer,  and  prayed  sweetly  in  her  own  words. 
One  day,  when  several  other  children  were  baptized,  we  took 


DEATH  LOSING  ITS  BITTERNESS. 


365 


her  to  church,  and  she  was  baptized  also  by  the  name  of 
Mary,  as  one  rejoicing  to  sit  at  Jesus'  feet  and  hear  his  words. 
When  she  was  dying,  she  asked  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  to  sit  be- 
side her.  She  told  her  she  would  soon  be  free  from  pains 
and  see  the  Saviour  whom  she  loved.  One  of  the  Christian 
women  said  to  her,  '  Take  fast  hold  on  Jesus,  my  child  ;  He 
will  carry  you  to  heaven.'  '  I  do  mother,'  she  replied.  Soon 
after,  her  little  life  closed. 

"  A  poor  man  was  presented  to  our  notice,  one  Sabbath 
evening,  lying  at  the  entrance  of  a  miserable  hut.  He  told 
us  he  was  very  ill  and  poor,  and  listened  to  a  few  sentences 
of  Christian  instruction  vrith  interest.  One  of  our  catechists 
visited  him  to  afford  him  temporal  relief  and  spiritual  instruc- 
tion. Some  time  after,  I  inquired,  '  Are  you  uneasy  about 
your  sins  1 '  He  replied,  '  No,  sir.  Since  I  have  heard 
from  N.  there  is  such  a  Saviour  as  Jesus  who  can  pardon 
them,  I  am  not  afraid.  I  pray  to  Him.'  He  affirmed  to 
the  last  that  Jesus  was  his  only  trust,  and  it  seemed  to  me 
'  there  was  hope  in  his  end.' 

"  The  infant  school  is  attended  by  forty  children.  Rabee, 
the  teacher,  has  been  ill  since  July.  Her  place  has  been  sup- 
plied by  another  good  girl,  but  she  is  not  equal  to  Eabee  in 
eflSciency ;  her  English  education  had  raised  her  principles, 
and  given  her  tastes,  dignity,  and  moral  consistency  such  as 
are  rarely  found.  She  was  much  beloved,  and  exercised  a 
remarkable  influence  both  on  the  girls  and  Christian  women. 
Her  sweet  voice  tuned  the  hearts  as  well  as  lips  of  her  little 
scholars,  so  that  the  remark  was  several  times  made  to  us, 
that  our  infant  school  was  not  inferior  to  one  in  England. 
Rabee  is  suffering  from  lingering  disease  ;  but  she  is  happy 
and  peaceful  in  the  prospect  of  her  approaching  end.  Her 
faith  has  reality.  She  knows  the  good  Shepherd,  and  is 
known  of  Him.  To  such  a  believer  death  has  lost  its  bitter- 
ness.   Her  cheerful  demeanor  and  pious  exhortations  to  the 


366         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

children,  and  those  who  visit  her,  make  her  still  useful  in  her 
sphere.  A  young  Christian  preaching  by  patient  endurance 
of  suffering  and  meek  piety,  is  a  precious  witness  for  Jesus 
in  a  heathen  land,  and  in  a  native  Christian  congregation, 
where  the  tendency  constantly  is  to  spiritual  stagnation." 


A  SUFFERING  BABE. 


367 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Death  of  his  Infant  Son — Increasing  Sanctification — Interesting  Inci- 
dents during  Itineracy — Death  of  the  Ranee — Letters — Trip  to 
Bhagulpore — Severe  Elness — G-oes  to  the  Sandheads — Inundation — 
River  Trip — ^Yisit  to  Pumeah — Baptism — Bhagulpore — Mr.  Hurter's 
Death — Report. 

1848—1849. 

'■^  Jan,  \st. — May  the  blessing  of  our  covenant  God  in 
Jesus  Christ  be  our  portion  and  support  this  new  year  !  It 
commenced  in  our  family  with  trials  and  comforts.  The 
comfort  was  a  precious  one,  '  All  things  shall  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God.'  It  came  home  with  di- 
vine consolation  to  my  inmost  soul."  Then  follows  a  little 
tale  of  trials,  "  such,"  says  Mr.  W.,  "  as  are  common  to  us 
poor  pilgrims,  especially  us  missionaries  in  a  heathen  land." 
The  narrative  is  from  the  journal,  with  extracts  from  letters 
interspersed. 

"  A.ih. — Our  dear  babe  continues  ill,  and  is  reduced  to  a 
state  of  great  weakness.  This  morning  we  thought  him 
near  his  end,  and  I  baptized  him  Edmund  Hambleton,  add- 
ing him  in  faith  to  the  host  of  those  who  have  been  redeem- 
ed by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ." 

"  Yith. — ^We  proceeded  to  Chinsurah  to  procure  medical 
advice.  The  journey  wore  out  the  little  sufferer,  but  the 
doctor  thought  favorably  of  the  case,  and  hoped  the  babe 


368  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

might  rally.  On  Friday  evening  he  enjoyed  such  a  sweet 
a,nd  placid  sleep,  that  his  mamma  observing  a  heavenly 
smile  playing  on  his  pale  face,  reminded  me  of  an  idea  of 
Hindu  nurses,  that  he  must  be  entertained  by  angels.  The 
Christian  sympathy  and  affection  of  our  friends,  and  the 
kindness  of  the  doctor,  were  comforting  to  us  ;  but  the  lit- 
tle sufferer's  pulse  became  more  feeble,  and  on  Saturday 
night  he  could  only  find  ease  in  an  erect  position.  On  Sab- 
bath morning  he  was  worn  out  and  sinking ;  a  feeble  at- 
tempt to  cry,  while  he  was  in  my  arms,  was  the  last  effort 
of  expiring  nature,  and  his  tender  mother  felt  that  all  her 
care  and  love  could  do  no  more  for  him.  I  read  a  psalm  to 
her  to  comfort  her,  and  then  knelt  down  to  pray  with  her, 
and  while  raising  my  heart  to  heaven,  imploring  the  gracious 
presence  of  our  risen  Saviour  to  sustain  us  in  our  sorrow, 
the  nurse  called  me  to  look  at  the  babe,  and  while  I  pro- 
nounced the  blessing  over  him,  his  breath  ceased.  Thus 
early  has  our  little  Edmund  finished  his  short  course 
through  this  vale  of  tears,  in  which  he  had  passed  but  ten 
weeks,  and  five  of  these  weeks  of  severe  suffering,  during 
which  his  mamma  had  not  had  one  night's  entire  rest. 
What  a  solemn  Sabbath  morning  to  us !  As  he  died,  I 
looked  out  of  my  window  and  saw  the  Ganges  before  me, 
slowly  and  majestically  rolling  down  its  waters.  A  speak- 
ing emblem,  thought  I,  of  life's  short  course ;  soon,  perhaps, 
mine  may  close  too.  May  it  finish  well,  in  the  fullness  of 
faith  and  hope  of  glory  ! 

"  In  the  evening,  we  deposited  the  precious  dust  in  a 
lovely  spot,  near  the  bodies  of  some  eminent  saints  and 
missionaries  who  there  rest  in  hope.  Among  them  the  two 
Mrs.  Mundys  and  Mr.  Forsyth,  one  of  the  first  missionaries 
in  India,  and  a  band  of  little  children.  I  afterwards  preach- 
ed in  the  church  of  Chinsurah  on  the  words,  '  He  which  tes- 
tifieth  these  things  saith,  Surely  I  come  quickly  :  Amen. 


THE  NEARNESS  OF  ETERNAL  THINGS. 


369 


Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus.'  There  was  breathless  atten- 
tion in  the  audience." 

This  was  the  same  text  he  was,  four  years  later,  led  to 
choose  for  the  last  sermon  he  preached  before  his  own  death  ; 
and  it  is  evident  that  from  this  time  his  mind  was  particu- 
larly impressed  with  the  nearness  of  eternal  things ;  and  his 
character,  which  had  always  been  lovely  and  of  good  report, 
seemed  henceforward  to  attain  a  rapid  maturity.  The 
alarming  attacks  of  illness  he  had  experienced  in  the  jungle 
had  greatly  solemnized  his  feelings,  and  he  had  related  them 
to  his  wife,  with  much  particularity  and  seriousness.  The 
lengthened  illness  and  subsequent  death  of  his  babe  had 
deepened  these  impressions,  and  some  other  peculiarly  try- 
ing experiences  which  followed  contributed  to  produce  that 
chastened  state  of  mind,  which  the  Apostle  describes  as  "the 
peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness,"  in  those  who  have  been 
exercised  by  great  and  severe  affliction.  The  prayer  record- 
ed in  his  journal,  in  reference  to  the  finishing  of  his  own 
work,  was  remarkably  fulfilled.  He  had  been  five  times 
called  to  suffer  the  pang  connected  with  resigning  beloved 
little  ones  to  the  grave  ;  this  was  the  final  trial.  Perhaps 
somewhat  of  a  consciousness  of  coming  deliverance  was, 
from  that  moment,  permitted  to  occupy  his  mind,  and  add 
brightness  to  his  prospects  heavenward.  "Herein  is  my 
Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit ;  so  shall  ye  be  my 
disciples,"  (John  15  :  8,)  were  some  of  our  Saviour's  last 
words,  to  those  he  was  about  to  leave  alone  for  a  season. 
These  words  were  applicable  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht  at  this 
stage  of  his  journey.  It  has  been  well  said,  that  "  as  the 
ears  of  corn  ripen  for  the  harvest,  they  bow  their  heads 
nearer  to  the  ground."  So  it  is  often  observed  to  be  with 
believers ;  they  then  see  more  of  their  own  imperfections, 
and  often  express  their  sense  of  it ;  yet  they  repose  with  a 
growing  confidence  on  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  The 
IG* 


370  MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

nearer  they  advance  to  their  heavenly  rest  the  more  humble 
they  become,  though  not  the  less  active  and  useful.  They 
feel  increasingly  desirous  of  improving  every  talent  they 
possess  to  the  glory  of  God ;  knowing,  seeming  to  have  an 
inward  conviction,  that  their  time  is  short.  Thus  it  was 
most  strikingly  with  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

"  On  the  12th  of  February  we  again  reached  Burdwan," 
he  writes.    "  Watts'  beautiful  verse, 

'  Give  me  the  wings  of  faith  to  rise 

Within  the  veO,  and  see 
The  saints  above,  how  great  their  joys, 
How  bright  their  glories  be  I' 

was  a  sweet  subject  of  meditation  to  us  on  the  journey,  in 
the  remembrance  of  the  babe  we  had  carried  with  us  in 
going  down,  to  return  with  him  to  our  earthly  home  no 
more." 

The  Easter  festival  was  always  a  time  of  peculiar  enjoy- 
ment to  Mr.  Weitbrecht.  It  will  be  remembered,  that  it 
was  on  Good  Friday  he  considered  himself  really  brought 
home  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  and  Passion  Week  was  a  season 
of  precious  remembrance  to  him,  and  hallowed  communion 
with  God.  This  year  it  was  rendered  additionally  interest- 
ing by  the  presence  of  a  Hindu  lady,  who  had  come  to  Burd- 
wan under  peculiar  circumstances,  to  receive  instruction 
from  him  preparatory  to  her  baptism.  She  was  pleasing 
and  sensible.  The  following  extracts  from  letters  refer 
to  this  and  some  other  matters,  and  will  continue  the  narra- 
tive : 

''April  27,  1848. 
"  My  Dear  Friend  :  .  .  .  Sometimes  of  an  evening,  we 
much  long  to  visit  one  of  our  old  friends^  and  enjoy  the 
sweet  privilege  of  Christian  intercourse.  We  are  indeed  in 
a  dry  and  thirsty  land ;  but  the  great  thing  is  to  rest  our 
souls  in  Jesus,  and  cultivate  that  fellowship  with  our  risen 


UNUSUAL  CANDIDATE  FOR  BAPTISM. 


371 


Lord  which  supports  and  nourishes  our  inward  life.  Then 
we  are  peaceful  and  happy  though  the  whole  world  around 
us  should  be  in  turmoil  and  darkness. 

"  I  have  just  now  an  unusual  candidate  for  baptism,  a  Hin- 
du lady.  She  has  lived,  for  some  years,  under  the  protection 
of  an  English  gentleman,  who  read  the  Bible  with  her.  By 
degrees  both  became  uneasy ;  and  the  lady  said,  that  if 
the  Holy  Book  were  true,  they  were  doing  wrong.  I  was 
requested  by  a  mutual  friend,  to  receive  this  interesting  wo- 
man, who  had  become  really  anxious  to  be  thoroughly  in- 
structed in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  She  came  to  us 
about  three  weeks  ago,  with  her  little  girl,  a  very  sweet, 
lively  child.  I  hope  my  poor  efforts  for  her  are  not  without 
a  blessing.  Last  week  on  reading  the  history  of  our  Saviour's 
passion,  she  was  deeply  affected,  and  frequently  stopped,  the 
tears  gushing  from  her  eyes.  I  believe  divine  grace  is  real- 
ly at  work  in  her  heart,  for  I  never  saw  such  deep  feeling  in 
a  Hindu  female.  She  will  shortly  be  baptized,  and  after- 
wards married.  She  is  a  sensible,  intelligent  woman,  about 
twenty-four  years  of  age ;  and  if  she  had  the  opportunity  of 
moving  in  English  society,  she  would  soon  become  suited 
for  the  station  she  is  to  occupy.  She  has  come  from  a  sta- 
tion about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant. 

"  I  have  just  now  another  interesting  inquirer,  a  man  of 
considerable  property,  who  speaks  English  well,  and  comes 
to  our  English  service  on  Sundays  with  two  other  equally 
promising  young  men.  Our  brethren  at  Calcutta  have  late- 
ly had  some  very  pleasing  fruits  of  their  labors,  in  the  bap- 
tism of  several  young  men.  Thus  you  see  we  are  progress- 
ing slowly ;  but  it  is  a  joyful  fact,  every  day  brings  us  near- 
er to  that  blessed  period  when 

'  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun, 
Does  his  successive  journeys  run :' 


372  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

when  every  single  convert  shall  be  multiplied,  as  it  were, 
into  a  host;  for  it  is  written,  'A  little  one  shall  become  a 
thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation.  I,  the  Lord,  will 
hasten  it  in  His  time.'  Who  knows,  dear  friend,  what  may- 
happen  even  in  one  year  ?  The  heart  beats  with  quickened 
speed  in  looking  forward.  Surely  the  Lord  is  at  hand,  and 
believers  should  be  on  their  watch-tower.  Let  us  be  patient 
and  persevering,  for  our  '  redemption  draweth  nigh.'  *  *  * 

"  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

It  has  been  before  remarked,  that  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  charac- 
ter was  now  fast  maturing.  We  have  traced  him  through  the 
spring  and  summer  of  his  Christian  experience;  we  now 
come  to  the  autumnal  season.  It  was  first  the  blade,  then 
the  ear ;  now  it  is  the  full  corn  in  the  ear.  It  could  now  be 
emphatically  said  of  him,  that  his  conversation  was  in  heaven, 
from  whence  also  he  was  continually  looking  for  the  Saviour, 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  loins  were  girded  about,  and  his 
light  burning,  and  he  himself  like  unto  one  waiting  for  his 
Lord ;  looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  appear- 
ance of  the  great  God  and  our  Saviour  J esus  Christ ;  and  abid- 
ing in  Him,  so  that  when  He  should  appear  he  might  have 
confidence,  and  not  be  ashamed  before  Him  at  His  coming. 
It  was  most  gracious  experience,  which  his  Master  was  thus 
vouchsafing  to  His  faithful  servant ;  and  it  carried  him  above 
trials,  now  occurring,  of  an  order  highly  distressing  to  a  man 
of  his  generous  and  affectionate  disposition.  His  dignified 
bearing,  under  circumstances  of  extreme  provocation,  is  still 
fresh  in  the  memory  of  some  who  then  saw  him  very  near. 
On  one  occasion,  when  he  was  asked  what  he  must  do  with 
some  individuals  who  had  distressed  him  in  a  high  degree, 
he  replied,  "  I  must  bear  with  them,  as  God  bears  with  me. 
He  has  put  me  in  His  place  to  those  persons :  they  have  no 
other  friend  who  can  help  them  if  I  cast  them  aside ;  I  must 
therefore  be  merciful  and  long-suffering,  even  as  my  Father 


LETTER  TO  REV.  J.  A.  JETTER. 


373 


who  is  in  heaven  is  so."  And  he  never  swerved  from  this 
line  of  conduct,  though  the  provocation  continued  for 
months. 

We  will  again  carry  on  the  narrative  by  extracts  from 
letters  which  will  further  elucidate  the  foregoing  remarks  : 

To  Rev.  J.  A.  Jetter. 

''May  21th. 

"  My  Very  Dear  Bhai  :  *  *  *  *  People  here  talk  of 
nothing  but  revolutions,  and  the  awful  state  of  Europe. 
*  *  *  *  I  trust  the  real  Church  will  unite  more  closely,  and 
particularly  that  all  will  lay  aside  minor  points  of  difference, 
which  hinder  the  fine  flow  of  Christian  love ;  this  will  be  an 
immense  gain.  Only  let  the  people  of  God  present  a  united 
body,  and  He  will  fight  for  them.  I  baptized  a  family  yes- 
terday, so  you  see  if  we  can  not  get  one  hundred  and  fifty 
large  fish  in  one  net,  we  catch  at  least  one  now  and  then 
with  the  hook ;  but  you  can  enter  into  my  feelings,  when  I 
tell  you,  that  I  sometimes  feel  quite  overwhelmed  at  our 
little  apparent  success.  It  often  makes  me  weep  and  cry 
before  the  Lord.  Some  of  our  brethren  can  take  these  things 
easily,  and  say  the  time  is  not  come ;  but  my  conviction  is, 
that  if  Christians  in  India  were  what  they  should  be,  it  would 
be  different.  I  have  now  been  eighteen  years  in  the  field, 
and  see  no  village  around  me  entirely  converted.  How  humil- 
iating !  Passive  obedience  is  a  harder  lesson  than  active 
performance,  as  you  say.  May  the  Lord  give  us  every 
needful  grace  to  persevere  to  the  end ! — Your  very  affection- 
ate brother,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

To  Rev.  M.  M.  Preston^  Cheshunt. 

"  BuRDWAN,  2hth  May,  1848. 
"  My  Dear  Sir  :  We  heard  some  days  ago  from  friends 
in  London,  that  ;he  presentation  for  our  son  to  Christ's 


374  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

Hospital  was  ready  for  their  disposal.  We  are  most  thank 
ful  to  you  for  this  valuable  gift.  Our  dear  boy  being  thus 
provided  for,  we  are  relieved  from  considerable  anxiety.  I 
hope  and  pray,  that  this  providential  opening  may  be  for  his 
temporal  and  eternal  welfare. 

"  I  wish  I  could  write  of  increasing  success  in  our  labors 
of  love,  but  the  Lord  seems  to  say,  '  My  time  is  not  yet 
come,  and  you  must  be  contented  to  wait  a  little  longer.' 
The  fire  was,  for  years,  smouldering  under  the  ashes  in  France 
and  Germany,  and  how  suddenly  has  it  burst  forth !  The  same 
process,  only  reversed  from  worse  to  better,  is  gradually  ad- 
vancing among  the  population  of  Bengal,  and  perhaps,  ere 
long,  God  in  His  gracious  providence  may  bring  about 
events  in  such  a  striking  manner,  as  to  create  an  entire 
change  in  the  minds  of  the  Hindus.  It  requires  moral  courage 
and  energy,  which  only  divine  grace  can  impart,  to  press 
onward  and  persevere  without  fainting.  Still,  it  would  be 
wrong  not  to  acknowledge  the  hand  of  the  Lord ;  for  while 
the  mass  of  the  population  continue  dead  in  sin,  we  all  feel 
there  is  a  progress ;  there  is  a  ground-swell,  as  the  Rev. 
Krishna  Mohun  Bannerjea  called  it,  at  a  late  clerical  meet- 
ing. The  new  generation  (Young  Bengal)  can  not  remain 
without  religion ;  and  as  we  see,  even  now,  here  and  there 
one  educated  Hindu  and  another  coming  forward  and  em- 
bracing Christianity,  there  is  every  human  probability  that 
greater  numbers  will  cast  in  their  lot  with  us  hereafter. 

"  I  am  just  now  preparing  a  young  man  of  this  description 
for  baptism.  He  was  educated  in  our  English  school,  and 
is  one  of  those  sensible,  intelligent  lads  of  the  Kaystho  caste, 
who  are  so  well  calculated  for  useful  helpers  in  our  schools. 
He  lived  at  home  for  a  year,  and  '  felt  sickened'  at  the  ab- 
surdities of  Hinduism,  and  the  utter  want  of  intellectual 
society.  These  are  his  own  words.  He  has  lately  instructed 
his  young  wife,  reading  with  her  in  the  Bengali  New  Testa- 


BRONCHITIS  AND  PLEURISY. 


375 


ment  I  gave  him,  and  he  told  me  yesterday,  with  great  sat- 
isfaction, that  she  is  quite  willing  to  leave  all,  and  join  him 
in  following  Christ. 

"  Last  Friday,  when  preaching  in  the  bazaar  of  Burdwan, 
on  the  words, '  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me  and 
drink,'  I  felt  a  peculiar  opening  to  bear  testimony  to  the 
love  and  power  of  Jesus,  with  much  freedom.  I  saw  some 
of  my  hearers,  poor  fellows  of  the  laboring  classes,  groaning 
and  sighing  ;  and,  in  the  middle  of  th'e  street,  the  crowd  was 
as  attentive  and  silent  as  any  congregation  in  a  church ; 
I  went  home  greatly  encouraged,  and  remembered  and 
pondered  the  words  in  my  heart,  'My  word  shall  not 
return  unto  me  void,  saith  the  Lord ;  but  it  shall  accomplish 
that  which  I  please,  and  prosper  in  the  thing  whereunto  I 
sent  it.' 

"Our  dear  bishop  is  well  for  his  advanced  age.  He 
preached  a  series  of  Lent  lectures,  and  began  delivering 
them  in  the  new  cathredral,  but  the  space  was  found  too 
small,  and  at  the  third  lecture,  they  adjourned  to  the  largest 
church  in  Calcutta,  St.  John's.  The  subject  of  the  lectures 
was  the  temptation  of  Christ.  I  was  told  they  were  most 
excellent,  and  calculated  to  be  very  useful  to  the  Calcutta 
public.  It  is  very  remarkable  how  this  venerated  man 
keeps  up  his  energy  of  mind  in  such  a  trying  climate.  Mr. 
Pratt  is  quite  well,  and  very  diligent  in  his  Master's  service. 
"  Yours,  most  truly,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

Soon  after  the  setting  in  of  the  rains,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  took 
cold,  which  settled  in  his  throat  and  chest ;  and  these  organs 
being  weakened  by  many  years  of  continual  preaching  and 
speaking,  the  attack  became  very  obstinate,  and  the  cause  of 
much  anxiety.  It  was  at  length  ascertained,  by  correspon- 
dence with  his  kind  friend.  Dr.  Webb,  that  he  was  suffering 
from  bronchitis  and  pleurisy.    The  distressing  cough  broke 


376         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

his  rest,  and  an  inundation  which  came  on  just  at  the  time 
aggravated  his  symptoms ;  but  he  could  not  be  induced  to 
yield  to  his  indisposition,  or  to  cease  entirely  from  his  loved 
employ.  On  the  27th  of  August  he  writes :  "  I  applied  a 
blister  to  my  chest  after  preaching  in  English,  but  no  means 
we  used  seemed  to  relieve  me  effectually."  At  length  he 
became  so  alarmingly  weak,  that  he  was  persuaded  to  con- 
sent to  be  removed,  and  he  was  conveyed  to  Calcutta,  to  the 
house  of  Dr.  Webb.  He  was  so  prostrated  on  his  arrival, 
as  to  be  unable  to  walk  up-stairs.  Dr.  W.  lost  no  time  in 
trying  to  rally  him,  in  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  he  suc- 
ceeded ;  but  he  said  that  had  his  removal  been  three  days  de- 
layed, it  would  have  been  too  late,  as  the  system  was  sink- 
ing fast.  He  was  soon  so  far  better,  as  to  be  able  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  Sandheads  for  the  benefit  of  the  sea  air ;  and 
there,  in  the  small  pilot  vessel,  he  still  tried  to  do  something 
for  his  Master,  under  all  his  weakness  and  depression ;  and 
he  made  good  and  useful  impressions,  speaking  to  the  sick  and 
dying,  and  even  venturing  to  preach  a  little  to  the  pilots  on 
Sundays,  who  heard  him  gladly.  A  sentence  which  occurs 
in  a  letter  he  wrote  to  his  wife,  during  his  absence,  is  most 
characteristic  of  his  grateful  disposition  :  "  I  desired  to  tell 
you,  my  dearly  beloved  M,,  how  grateful  I  feel  to  you  for 
your  unremitting  and  affectionate  attention  to  me,  and  care 
of  me  during  this  illness.  Surely  if  a  good,  tender,  and 
faithful  wife  is  a  treasure  under  any  circumstances,  she  is  so, 
in  a  far  higher  degree,  in  the  hour  of  sickness.  May  it 
please  the  Lord  to  bring  us  together  again,  and  to  bless  this 
time  of  separation  and  retirement  for  my  full  recovery !" 
The  change  was  useful  to  him  ;  but  being  deprived  of  the 
society  of  those  he  loved,  for  his  wife  had  been  obliged  to 
hasten  to  her  duties  at  home,  after  seeing  him  on  board,  was 
so  painful  to  him  that  he  did  not  derive  the  benefit  the  doc- 
tor had  hoped,  and  he  was  finally  recommended  to  take  a 


LETTER  TO  MR.  VENN. 


377 


river  trip,  in  which  he  could  be  accompanied  by  his  family. 
He  alludes  to  this  indisposition  in  his  correspondence  and 
journals.  We  find  the  following  entry  upon  hearing  that  his 
recovery  would  be  tedious  : 

"  Well,  the  Lord  has  been  pleased  to  lay  me  aside.  It  is 
no  ordinary  exercise  of  faith.  Oh !  what  is  man  1 — a  poor 
sinful  creature.  I  long  sometimes  to  be  delivered  from  this 
body  of  death,  and  to  be  with  the  Lord.  Perhaps  my  work 
Eoay  soon  be  done  !" 

To  Rev.  H.  Venn. 

"Bhagulpore,  Dec.  28,  1848. 

"  My  Dear  Mr.  Venn  :  It  is  a  long  while  since  I  wrote 
to  you  last,  and  time  has  hastened  apace.  I  feel  I  must  not 
allow  the  declining  year  to  come  to  its  close  without  send- 
ing you  a  few  lines,  to  show  you  that  I  am  still  alive.  I  am 
sitting  at  this  pretty  place,  with  a  good,  pious  family,  and 
reading  the  Memoir  of  Simeon,  which  is  delightful,  and 
has  been  refreshing  to  my  soul.  My  health  has  sustained  a 
severe  shock,  which  has  disabled  me  for  public  duty;  but  the 
medical  men  assure  me,  the  coming  warm  weather  will  en- 
tirely remove  my  ailings.  I  was  struck  to  find  that  dear 
man  of  God,  Mr.  Simeon,  was  laid  aside  for  a  year  or  more, 
by  a  similar  indisposition,  exactly  at  the  same  time  of  life, 
and  arising  from  similar  causes. 

"  I  look  upon  this  visitation  as  sent  by  the  Lord  in  much 
mercy  to  my  soul,  affording  me  leisure  to  be  still,  and  com- 
mune with  my  own  heart ;  and  I  believe  I  have  not  been  a 
loser  but  a  gainer  by  it.  While  I  felt  weak  and  languid  in 
body,  the  Lord  saw  good  to  make  me  poor  in  spirit.  I  was, 
as  it  were,  stripped  naked,  so  that  I  was  distressed  and 
almost  overwhelmed  at  my  great  sinfulness.  What  could 
I  do,  but  cast  myself  upon  the  free  mercy  of  our  blessed 
Saviour  ? — and  I  do  now  taste  something  of  the  sweet  and 


378  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness,  after  this  chastening  in 
love.  To  hate  sin  more,  to  abhor  ourselves,  and  to  feel 
Jesus  more  precious,  and  His  promises  increasingly  delight- 
ful, shows  a  step  nearer  heavenward ;  and  therefore  I  can 
say,  from  the  fullness  of  my  heart,  '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my 
soul,'  etc. 

"  Brother  Geidt  is  doing  all  he  can  at  Burdwan,  and  is,  I 
hear,  getting  on  very  nicely.  I  was  so  sorry  I  could  not 
take  an  active  part  in  celebrating  the  jubilee  festival ;  but  I 
was  delighted  to  hear  it  was  a  blessed  season  in  our  mission- 
stations  ;  and  our  friends  at  Calcutta  hope  to  raise  £1000  for 
the  jubilee  fund.  How  the  Lord  has  honored  our  Society  ! 
I  was  much  impressed  by  it  when  I  read  in  Simeon's  Life,  the 
first  and  protracted  struggles  of  its  birth  and  infancy. 

"Our  friends  at  this  station  have  now  £400  in  hand, 
and  are  anxious  to  see  a  mission  begun.  The  hill  tribes 
have  no  caste,  no  idols,  no  Shasters,  and  are  therefore  much 
better  prepared  for  embracing  Christianity  than  the  Hindus. 
The  residents  entreat  me  to  mention  this  subject  to  you  ; 
but  I  believe  Mr.  Cuthbert  has  written  to  the  Parent  Com- 
mittee. What  a  year  this  has  been  to  my  poor  fatherland  !  I 
have  been  reading  Elliott's  '  Horse  Apocalypticse'  during 
my  illness,  with  much  interest.  With  kindest  Christian  re- 
gards, believe  me  yours  very  sincerely, 

"  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

A  short  abstract  of  the  "Report"  for  this  year  will  close 
its  history :  "  Mr.  Geidt  and  myself  are  conducting  the 
mission,  with  the  assistance  of  our  native  helpers.  The  Lord 
has  graciously  strengthened  us,  to  continue  casting  abroad 
the  precious  seed  of  the  Word,  in  hope.  We  cheerfully  rely 
on  His  promises,  firmly  believing  that  He,  who  is  the  faithful 
and  true  Witness,  will  at  length  vouchsafe  the  long-desired 
and  prayed-for  blessing. 


REPORT. 


379 


"  The  means  of  grace  have  been  administered,  as  usual,  on 
Sundays  and  week-days.  The  hungry  could  gather  manna 
and  the  thirsty  refresh  their  souls  at  the  Fountain  of  life. 
We  could  wish,  regarding  a  part  of  our  native  Christians, 
that  they  more  fully  appreciated  their  privileges ;  and  we 
sometimes  feel  deeply  concerned  at  their  want  of  spiritual 
life  and  energy.  But  this  is  what  we  can  not  give ;  and  long 
experience  has  convinced  me  that,  in  the  present  state  of  pro- 
gi-ess,  we  must  be  contented  with  the  day  of  small  things. 
One  hundred  and  eighty  persons  now  compose  our  congre- 
gation. Our  monthly  missionary  prayer-meetings  have  often 
proved  blessed  seasons  of  refreshment ;  and  the  fervent  peti- 
tions offered  by  some  of  our  native  brethren  have  cheered 
my  heart.  Three  adults  have  been  added  to  us  by  baptism  : 
one  a  widow,  who  is  a  widow  indeed,  and,  I  believe,  truly 
influenced  by  religion.  She  is  from  the  village  close  by  our 
dwelling ;  and  her  heart  was  first  touched  by  affliction.  Ten 
little  ones  have  also  been  introduced  into  the  Church  by  bap- 
tism. I  have  much  hope  of  some  other  converts  shortly — 
intelligent  young  men. 

"  The  Christian  and  Infant  Schools  are  in  a  satisfactory 
state  of  progress.  Of  the  girls,  two  have  been  married ;  and 
we  have  several  now  in  school,  who  are  the  daughters  of  those 
formerly  brought  up  in  it.  The  present  generation  is  much 
more  advanced  then  the  former.  Our  onward  progress  is 
evident.  About  1000  rupees  have  been  subscribed  for  these 
Christian  schools. 

"  The  church  is  nearly  finished,  and  will  be  opened  for  ser- 
vice next  year." 


380         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAME8  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Goes  out  in  Tents — Robbery — Returns  Home  through  the  Sunderbuus 
— Letters — Constant  Reference  to  the  Eternal  World — Itinerating 
— ^Death  of  Mr.  Krauss'  Child — Natire  Testimony  to  the  East-India 
Company's  Government — Tour — Missionary  Faithfulness — Last  Visit 
to  Beerbhoom — Severe  Illness — Death  of  Koilas — Death  of  Mr. 
Krauss — Conference — Death  of  Dr.  HaberUn — Mr.  Davis — ^Hia  Visit 
to  Burdwan — Mr.  Merk's  Recollections  of  Mr.  "Weitbrecht. 

1849—1850. 

On  New  Year's  day  1849,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  wrote:  '-'-Jan. 
1. — May  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  all  His  divine  love,  and 
grace,  and  glory,  be  more  fully  revealed  to  my  soul  this 
year !  This  is  the  happiness,  the  riches,  the  peace  I  desire. 
Nothing  without  Jesus  !  All  in  and  with  Him !  I  preach- 
ed twice  yesterday,  administered  the  sacrament,  and  had  a 
burial.  I  entreated  the  Lord  not  to  allow  me  to  suffer  in 
body,  in  consequence  of  these  labors  of  love  for  His  name's 
sake ;  which  I  feared,  in  my  still  delicate  state,  I  might. 
He  heard  me,  and  fulfilled  my  humble  request,  and  I  feel 
none  the  worse.  One  dear  friend  presented  me  with  200 
rupees,  another  with  30  rupees,  for  our  church.  The  Lord 
bless  the  givers !" 

On  the  2d,  he  accompanied  his  kind  host  and  hostess  to 
an  excursion  into  the  district,  which  was  likely  to  prove  in- 
vigorating to  his  weakened  frame.    They  travelled  with 


ROBBERY. 


381 


tents,  merely  proceeding  a  few  miles  in  the  early  morning, 
in  a  palanquin  or  on  horseback,  and  then  coming  up  to  the 
place  where  the  tents  were  pitched  before  the  sun  was  hot ; 
for  even  in  the  cold  season  an  Indian  sun  is  trying  to  a 
European.  The  beautiful  dry  weather,  and  the  constant 
change  from  place  to  place,  are  considered  peculiarly  brac- 
ing and  beneficial  to  those  suffering  from  chronic  illness.  It 
was  therefore  an  especial  blessing  for  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to 
have  the  opportunity,  thus  providentially  afforded  him,  of 
making  such  an  excursion,  and  he  describes  in  his  jom-nal 
some  of  the  scenes  through  which  they  passed.  "I  find," 
he  writes,  "  that  marching  about,  breathing  the  free  air  of 
heaven,  and  encamping  in  mango  groves,  is  very  useful  to 
me.  I  am  now  nearly  free  from  weakness  in  the  lungs,  so 
that  I  can  but  praise  the  Lord."  While  out  on  this  excur- 
sion, a  thief  one  night  entered  his  tent  and  stole  his  tin  box 
from  under  his  bed.  This  box  contained  all  his  valuables, 
and  money  in  bank-notes  and  silver  to  a  considerable  amount, 
the  chief  part  of  which  had  been  given  him  for  various  ob 
jects  in  connection  with  his  work,  so  that  it  did  not  belong 
to  himself  "  I  felt  much  distressed,"  he  writes  "  on  awak- 
ing, to  discover  my  loss.  My  private  papers,  and  other 
treasures  I  valued  much,  all  gone,  and  I  took  my  departure 
with  Mrs.  A.  with  a  heavy  heart."  The  friend  to  whom  he 
alludes  said  afterwards,  that  she  had  never  been  taught  so 
beautiful  a  lesson,  as  his  behavior  gave  her  under  this  severe 
trial.  "  He  did  not,"  said  she,  "  utter  one  word  approach- 
ing to  anger  or  impatience ;  his  usual  smile  of  cheerfulness 
was  on  his  face  as  he  gave  me  his  arm,  and  though  I  could 
see  he  felt  it  deeply,  I  could  not  perceive  from  his  conversa- 
tion, that  he  had  one  thought  of  discontent  in  his  heart.  It 
was  evident  he  regarded  it  as  a  discipline  permitted  by 
God."  A  few  hours  later,  the  box  and  papers  were  all  found, 
and  restored  to  him ;  but  140  rupees  in  silver,  which  had 


38!2  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBREDHT. 

been  taken  away,  he  never  recovered.  After  some  weeks 
of  this  kind  of  travelling  he  at  length  returned  home  by  a 
river-steamer,  and  had  a  pleasant  voyage,  holding  daily 
prayer  on  board,  at  which  all  the  passengers,  as  well  as  the 
captain  and  his  wife,  attended ;  and  he  records  conversations 
with  them  also,  and  his  hope  that  the  Lord  might  give  His 
blessing  to  these  humble  efforts.  The  Sunday  on  board 
was  peculiarly  interesting.  "  I  never  had  expected,"  writes 
he,  "  to  find  such  lovely  scenery,  such  noble  rivers  in  the 
far-famed  wilds  of  the  Sunderbuns.  The  banks  of  the 
streams  are  studded  with  trees,  and  vareigated  foliage  of 
every  hue.  The  scene  changes  every  few  minutes,  and  some 
new  creek  or  river  comes  in  sight ;  the  birds  are  singing,  the 
woodcutter  is  busy  felling  timber,  with  which  natives  are 
loading  their  boats  for  the  Calcutta  market.  The  land  is 
very  low,  and  the  water  appears  higher  than  the  banks ;  this 
has  a  peculiar  effect  to  the  eye  of  the  stranger.  The  greater 
part  of  the  day  it  was  perfectly  calm  and  quiet,  no  busy 
sounds  around  us,  nothing  but  the  engines  of  the  steamer 
propelling  her  on  her  way.  Nature  is  indeed  celebrating  a 
Sabbath  here,  among  soft  waters  and  solitary  woods,  and 
under  a  clear  sky ;  it  seemed  like  a  beautiful  temple  pre- 
pared for  man  to  worship  his  Creator.  Here  and  there  alli- 
gators were  seen  basking  in  the  rays  of  that  sun,  which  shines 
so  genially  on  all  God's  creatures.  I  performed  divine  ser- 
vice on  deck  ;  even  the  engine-boy  was  in  attendance.  My 
heart  was  tuned  to  solemnity  from  the  early  dawn,  and  I 
spent  a  peaceful,  happy  Sabbath  in  this  wild  region  in  com- 
munion with  my  Saviour.  My  text  was,  'And  Enoch  walk- 
ed with  God :  and  he  was  not ;  for  God  took  him.'  My 
hearers  manifested  much  serious  attention,  and  my  mind 
was  drawn  out  in  prayer  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  in  this 
heathen  land." 

How  truly  do  the  above  short  extracts  display  the  mind 


DEATH   OF  RABEE. 


383 


and  character  of  one  of  Christ's  servants  and  His  own  faith- 
fulness in  standing  by  him,  and  sustaining  and  comforting 
him  under  all  circumstances ;  whether  those  of  active  mis- 
sionary effort,  or  those  connected  with  sickness,  and  inter- 
ruption of  the  usual  and  dearly-loved  labor  !  Wherever  he 
went,  he  was  at  home  in  his  Master's  service,  and  found 
abundant  opportunity  to  recommend  Him,  and  to  plead  for 
Him  with  his  fellow-men. 

On  reaching  home  in  February,  after  seven  months'  ab- 
sence, he  found  all  in  good  order ;  and  shortly  after,  twelve 
brethren  assembled  at  his  house  for  their  usual  conference. 
Mr.  Blumhardt  afterwards  wrote  thus  to  him :  "  I  hope  the 
blessing  and  encouragement  I  have  found  at  Burdwan  will 
carry  me  through  the  hot  and  rainy  season  for  six  months, 
till  we  meet  again  in  autumn."  He  was  also  cheered  by  a 
most  kind,  affectionate  letter  from  the  friends  at  Bhagulpore, 
to  whom  he  owed  so  much.  Mrs.  A.  detailed  the  particulars 
of  a  very  successful  sale  they  had  been  holding  in  the  botan- 
ical garden  of  the  station.  "  We  owe  this,"  said  she,  "  en- 
tirely to  your  visit,  and  to  your  account  of  the  ladies'  sale 
at  Purneah ;  for  it  was  this  that  encouraged  us  to  make 
the  attempt ;  and  now  we  can  at  once  begin  to  build  our 
hospital,  which  is  so  much  needed  for  poor  sick  natives.  It 
has  been  delayed  hitherto  for  want  of  funds,  which  the 
adoption  of  your  plan  has  now  placed  in  our  hands." 

Some  extracts  from  a  letter  to  Miss  Millard  refer  to  the 
state  of  his  own  mind,  and  to  the  death  of  Rabee,  which  had 
occurred  during  his  absence  : 

''March  Sd. 

My  Dear  Friend  :  It  is  desirable  sometimes  that  we 
should  be  convinced  practically,  that  the  Lord  can  easily 
spare  us,  and  does  not  at  all  require  our  poor  services.  Oh  ! 
may  we  ever  be  able  to  say.  It  is  well ;  and  honor  our  dear 
Redeemer  by  a  passive  submission  to  His  will  when  trials 


1 


384  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

come  on,  as  well  as  by  a  life  of  activity  !  Dear  Rabee  was 
permitted  to  enter  into  the  joy  of  her  Lord  while  we  were 
away.  Her  faith  remained  steadily  fixed  on  Christ  to  the 
last,  and  we  feel  comforted  in  the  certain  conviction  that 
she  is  now  in  His  presence  ;  He  having  purchased  her  with 
His  precious  blood.  I  sometimes  conversed  with  her,  and 
knelt  down  at  her  bedside,  when  I  felt  much  gratified  to  wit- 
ness her  childlike  and  firm  reliance  on  the  good  Shepherd.* 
Considering  what  this  world  is,  and  especially  this  heathen 
world  around  us,  there  is  something  truly  consoling  in  see- 
ing a  soul  converted  and  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb 
gathered  to  the  host  of  the  redeemed.  I  sometimes  rejoice 
to  think  that  after  eighteen  years  of  missionary  labor,  I  am 
now  much  nearer  to  the  Father's  house.  Our  eventful 
times  declare,  with  a  trumpet  voice,  that  the  Lord  will  soon 
come.  Let  us  pray,  my  dear  friend,  that  our  loins  may  be 
girded,  and  our  lamps  burning  brightly.  We  shall  never 
regret  in  eternity,  having  devoted  these  poor  bodies  and 
souls  to  the  service  of  Jesus.  We  pray  much  for  you,  and 
for  our  dear  child,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  may  pour  a  large 
measure  of  grace  into  her  youthful  heart.  We  have  com- 
fort in  the  certain  hope  that  a  prayer-hearing  God  will,  in 
His  own  good  time,  answer  us. 

"  Our  future  times  are  in  the  Lord's  hands  :  we  desire  to 
be  directed  by  Him,  and  to  labor  in  His  vineyard  as  long 
as  strength  is  given  ;  but  I  feel  my  years  increasing.  *  *  * 
You  recollect  when  the  Israelites  were  past  fifty,  they  had 
no  longer  to  go  on  warfare,  and  it  was  a  wise  and  kind  ordi- 
nance. If  the  Lord  should  spare  my  life  so  long,  I  may 
also  think  myself  entitled  to  look  out  for  quiet  retirement. 
May  the  Lord  Jesus  be  with  your  spirit,  and  ever  give  you 

*  A  short  memoir  of  Rabee  has  been  published,  entitled,  An  Indian 
Blossom.   Price,  4d. 


LETTER  TO  HIS  DAUGHTER. 


385 


a  sweet  sense  of  His  gracious  presence,  and  a  sweet  enjoy- 
ment of  His  precious  promises !  M.  joins  me  in  kindest 
Christian  regards  and  affection ;  she  intended  to  write,  but 
is  prevented  by  indisposition.  My  best  Christian  remem- 
brances to  all  who  are  kind  to  my  child.  I  inclose  a  word 
for  her.  Believe  me,  my  dear  friend,  your  affectionate 
brother  in  Christ,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

"My  Dear  Emily  :  From  the  year  1849  I  hope  you  will 
not  begin  every  letter  with  these  words,  '  I  hope  you  are 
quite  well,'  because  I  like  variety,  and  there  are  so  many 
ways  of  beginning  a  letter,  if  you  take  pains  and  exercise 
your  mind  a  little.  I  am,  however,  much  pleased  that  you 
write  nicely,  and  with  scarcely  any  mistakes. 

"  I  wish  I  could  see  you  again  after  so  many  years'  separa- 
tion. I  often  think  of  the  time  when  this  may  be  possible.  I 
hope  in  two  years  you  will  have  the  happiness  of  seeing  your 
dear  mamma.  How  delighted  you  will  be  to  embrace  and 
kiss  her  again !  Henry  is  growing  a  fine  boy  and  sensible ;  but 
real  beauty  is  that  which  shines  within  the  heart  where  grace 
reigns.  Sometimes  he  is  naughty,  and  I  have  to  punish  him, 
and  then  he  is  very  sorry.  How  clearly  it  can  be  seen  in  child- 
ren, that  man  is  a  fallen  being,  and  under  the  influence  of 
sin !  O  dear  child !  do  pray  often  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
renew  your  heart,  and  make  you  a  new  creature  altogether. 
If  you  do  not  begin  in  good  earnest,  sin,  like  a  poisonous  plant, 
will  grow  in  you,  and  become  very  powerful.  Hitherto,  you 
have  been  a  child,  but  ere  long  you  will  enter  upon  your 
twelfth  year,  and  we  all  hope  and  expect,  that  you  will  then, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  become  a  decided  Christian.  This  would 
be  to  me  the  best  news.  Half  and-half  is  not  at  all  satis- 
factory ;  you  will  not  be  happy  till  you  give  your  whole 
heart  to  Him  who  shed  His  precious  blood  for  you.  Pray 
often  for  grace  to  overcome  your  besetting  sins.  Perhaps 
17 


386  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


one  of  your  enemies  is  a  tendency  to  be  haughty  and  self-willed 
I  will  tell  you  an  excellent  remedy  for  this  evil.  Do  some- 
times read  and  think  of  the  example  of  Jesus  Christ,  how 
humble,  and  obedient,  and  meek  He  was  when  on  earth ; 
and  then  remember  He  can  make  you  like  Him  if  you  ask 
Him  in  faith  to  do  so. — Believe  me  your  very  affectionate 
father,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  often  referred,  as  he  has  done  in  the  pre- 
ceding letter,  to  the  age  of  fifty  as  that  period  in  his  life,  when 
his  term  of  active  service  would  be  likely  to  terminate.  It 
was  not  manifest  to  those  in  intimate  communion  with  him, 
that  he  looked  forward  to  the  close  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage 
at  this  period,  but  to  a  season  of  comparative  rest  and  retire- 
ment. He  often  alluded  to  the  subject  in  conversation  with 
his  wife,  and  seemed  at  times  to  realize  the  idea  very  vividly, 
of  being  withdrawn  from  his  sphere  at  that  age.  Just  after 
his  return  from  Europe  he  expressed  to  her  his  earnest  hope, 
that  he  might  be  permitted  to  labor  for  God  among  the  poor 
Hindus  at  least  seven  years  longer.  It  is  believed  that  he 
made  this  an  especial  subject  of  prayer  in  private,  and  his 
prayer  was  graciously  answered ;  for  he  attained  the  desired 
age  within  a  few  weeks,  and  was  in  active  service  to  the  very 
end.  As  the  months  and  years  passed  on,  however,  his  per- 
ception of  the  nearness  of  the  Father's  house  became  wonder- 
fully distinct,  and  was  noted  by  his  friends  as  something  re- 
markable. "  I  have  seldom  seen  any  one,"  writes  Mr. 
Lacroix,  "  whose  soul  seemed  to  be  so  absorbed  in  the  reali- 
ties of  eternity,  or  who  made  them  so  frequent  a  subject  of 
his  own  meditations,  and  of  conversation  with  his  friends. 
When  out  together  on  preaching  tours,  the  eternal  world,  its 
employments  and  its  enjoyments,  was  the  topic  to  which  he 
would  often  and  often  revert.  Frequently  a  very  late  hour 
at  night  found  us  in  our  solitary  tent,  engaged  in  conversation 


HIS  ONE  GREAT  AIM. 


387 


on  this  deeply  interesting  subject ;  and  this  was  evidently 
done  on  his  part,  with  a  view  of  becoming  more  fully  prepared 
for  it,  when  it  should  be  his  Lord's  pleasure  to  call  him 
home." 

Surely  Christians  lose  many  precious  enjoyments,  by  not 
cultivating  more  familiarity  with  their  heavenly  home,  and 
by  not  more  constantly  keeping  it  in  view.  Can  we  doubt, 
that  it  was  this  cherished  tendency  of  Mr.  W.'s  mind,  this  con- 
stant abiding  in  the  ante-chamber  through  faith,  which  contri- 
buted to  render  his  own  passage  from  the  "  earthly  house  of  this 
tabernacle"  to  the  royal  presence-chamber  of  "  the  King  in 
his  beauty,"  so  calm  and  easy  ?  He  felt  an  abiding  conviction 
that  here  we  are  in  a  world  that  is  daily  passing  away,  a  world 
where  we  are  ever  learning  the  bitterness  of  creature  disap- 
pointments, and  the  drying  up  of  creature  streams  of  happi 
ness,  and  he  perceived  how  well  it  was,  that  his  "  heart 
should  surely  there  be  fixed  where  true  joys  are  to  be  found." 

His  affections  were  centred  supremely  on  Him,  whom  none 
need  fear  to  love  too  ardently,  and  in  whose  love  he  met 
with  a  response  that  made  his  own  love  to  Him  seem  as  no- 
thing, by  reason  of  the  love  that  excelleth.  "  He  knew  and 
believed,"  as  the  apostle  says,  "  the  love  that  God  hath  to 
us,"  and  his  one  great  aim,  in  his  Christian  life,  was  to  cultivate 
free  intercourse  and  constant  communion  with  his  precious 
Saviour,  to  seek  for  "joy  in  Him,  that  his  joy  might  be 
fulfilled  in  himself,"  (John  17  :  13.)  This  he  pursued  till  the 
day  broke,  and  the  shadows  of  earth  disappeared  for  ever. 

To  this  disposition  we  may  trace  much  of  the  untiring 
zeal  that  animated  him  in  his  arduous  labors ;  and  much  of 
the  sweet  spirit  of  patient  endurance  that  enabled  him  to 
"  bear  all  things."  The  Holy  Spirit  had  worked  in  him  and 
produced  its  own  fruit,  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gen- 
tleness, goodness,  faith,  meekness,  temperance.  (Gal.  5 :  22, 
23.)  A  friend,  alluding  to  him  after  his  decease,  remarked, 


388         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBREOHT. 

that  "  he  was  not  wanting  in  the  exemplication  of  any  one 
of  these  graces,  but  manifested  them  all  in  his  life  and  con- 
versation. He  was  indeed  one  whom  the  apostle  would  have 
described  as  complete  in  Him,  having  attained  to  the  full 
stature  of  a  man  in  Christ  J esus." 

The  following  short  extract  from  a  letter  from  one  of  those 
who  had  known  him  on  his  first  arrival  at  Burdwan,  and 
derived  spiritual  profit  from  him,  manifests  the  affectionate 
esteem  in  which  he  continued  to  be  held  by  such  : 

"  At  the  time  I  received  your  letter,  I  was  in  a  state  of 
very  deep  anxiety  about  the  success  of  the  Punjab  war,  and 
have  frequently  intended  writing,  to  beg  you  to  unite  in 
prayer  with  me  for  a  favorable  issue.  The  Lord  in  His 
goodness  has  sent  it,  and  unto  Him  be  the  praise.  I  wish 
you  were  here,  my  dear  friend,  to  lead  us  in  the  expression 
of  our  heart-felt  thanksgivings,  but  I  hope  they  will  be  uni- 
versal, for  indeed  we  have  much  to  be  thankful  for.  I  feel 
that  the  Lord  has  wrought,  '  not  for  our  righteousness,'  but 
for  His  own  glorious  name's  sake,  and  for  the  truth  of  His 
promise,  that  he  will  '  scatter  the  people  that  delight  in  war.' 
This  verse  was  brought  to  my  mind,  with  a  deep  assurance 
of  comfort,  one  day  after  the  battle  of  Chillianwallah,  when 
accounts  from  the  north-west  were  discouraging,  and  forebod- 
ings still  more  gloomy.  We  have  now,  nationally  and  indi- 
vidually, a  fresh  cause  of  thankfulness  connected  with  this 
country. 

"  And  now,  dear  friend,  let  me  revert  to  your  most  kind 
letter  and  its  precious  exhortations.  I  keep  it  by  me  as  an 
occasional  refreshment.  How  often  have  I  wished  you  were 
here!  May  your  valuable  life  and  health  be 'spared  for 
many  added  years  of  usefulness ;  and  may  your  dear  wife, 
to  whom  I  send  my  kindest  regards,  enjoy  the  same,  and 
every  blessing  in  her  family  !  We  have  a  large  one,  and  it 
^s  a  source  of  pleasure  and  of  pain.    The  happiest  of  all  our 


SETS  OUT  ON  A  PREACHING  TOUR. 


389 


children  is  he  whose  mortal  remains  you  committed  to  the 
earth  sixteen  years  ago  ! 

"Dear  friend,  let  us  continue  to  have  a  place  in  your 
thoughts  in  your  best  moments.  Our  pilgrimages  are  per- 
haps nearer  their  close  than  we  think.  Oh !  that  I  could  feel 
cbs  you  do^  prepared  and  ready  to  meet  the  summons  ! 

"  In  that  readiness  is  summed  up  the  whole  of  what  is  call- 
ed happiness.    There  is  no  others 

Mr.  Weitbrecht,  with  his  partially-recovered  health,  re- 
newed  his  itinerant  labors,  and  we  find  him  again  in  this 
month  among  the  villagers. 

March  14. — "  We  set  out  on  a  preaching  tour,  as  soon  as 
the  brethren  had  left  us.  Mr.  Keane  accompanied  us.  His 
catechist  Jadob  is  a  Brahmun  from  this  neighborhood,  and 
a  very  zealous  man.  We  preached  a  good  deal ;  and  in  one 
place,  where  Jadob  was  recognized,  the  Brahmuns  treated 
him  very  roughly,  accusing  him  of  forsaking  his  religion. 
He  replied :  '  In  the  golden  age,  all  Hindus  worshipped  one 
God ;  I  have  only  returned  to  the  old  faith.'  The  wicked 
fellows,  however,  dispersed  our  congregation,  and  when  we 
moved  to  another  spot  they  tried  the  same  trick,  but  were 
less  successful.  I  told  them  that  in  the  present  war  in  the 
Punjab,  the  Sirdars,  after  rebelling  against  the  Company's 
Government,  had  some  fierce  struggles,  but  were  obliged  to 
lay  down  their  arms  and  sue  for  mercy.  If  Christ,  I  added, 
is  the  King  of  heaven  and  earth,  who  are  you,  poor  creatures, 
that  you  can  venture  to  rebel  against  and  oppose  so  great  a 
person  %  Jadob  was  pleased  with  the  attention  shown  by 
our  congregations,  and  said,  '  Sir,  this  is  a  good  place,  these 
will  be  believers.'  '  God  grant  it,'  said  I, '  in  His  infinite 
mercy.  Oh !  that  the  Lord  may  at  last  raise  life  from  the 
dead !  I  am  ready  to  watch  the  least  spark  that  appears  to 
be  kindling and  as  some  good  feeling  does  manifest  itself 
hereabouts,  we  have  decided  on  building  a  bungalow  at  Barui, 


390         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


for  our  native  helpers  to  come  and  reside  in  for  awhile,  from 
time  to  time,  and  in  which  divine  service  might  be  perform- 
ed. We  hope  to  station  two  readers  here,  to  visit  the  spots 
where  the  signs  of  life  appear. 

"  On  Friday  we  moved  forward  to  the  place  where  our 
first  converts  had  been  made.  I  related  to  the  villagers  their 
various  histories,  their  peaceful  lives  and  happy  deaths,  and 
then  appealed  to  my  audience,  saying,  '  I  recognize  many 
among  you,  whom  I  knew  as  boys  when  I  first  came  here, 
now  gray,  worn-out,  and  hastening  to  the  grave.  You  all 
know  the  Gospel  is  the  word  of  mercy  from  God,  and  sent 
for  the  salvation  of  men.'  I  then  dwelt  on  the  sin  of  unbelief^ 
and  added, '  No  Hindu  as  he  is,  is  fit  for  heaven ;  the  pure  in 
heart  alone  can  see  God ;  and  Christianity  is  the  only  religion 
that  can  make  man  pure  and  holy.  Do  accept  it  then,  even 
now,  in  the  eleventh  hour.'  Geidt  also  spoke  warmly  to 
another  group  on  the  love  of  God,  and  told  them  of  our 
earnest  desire,  to  see  the  people  accept  His  invitation  to  the 
great  wedding.  I  felt  ill  in  the  evening;  and  as  cholera  is 
abroad  and  the  weather  is  getting  very  hot,  I  moved  forward 
next  morning  in  the  direction  of  Burdwan.  Mr.  Keane,  who 
came  out  with  us,  had  returned  to  give  the  English  residents 
a  Sunday  service,  and  Geidt  remained  out  alone  for  a  few 
days  longer. 

"  Mr.  A.  of  Bhagulpore  has  sent  me  a  beautiful  letter,  de- 
tailing the  particulars  of  dear  brother  Hurter's  death.  All 
the  Europeans  in  the  place  attended  his  funeral,  and  man- 
ifested much  grief  A  day  or  two  later,  Mr.  Hurter's  catechist 
Bondhu  arrived  with  a  letter  from  him,  dated  January.  He 
spoke  to  us  of  this  man  as  a  very  excellent  Christian,  when 
we  were  at  Bhagulpore,  and  asked  my  wife  to  inquire  of  one 
of  our  widows  if  she  were  disposed  to  re-marry,  as  Bondhu 
is  a  widower,  and  is  anxious  to  marry  a  widow,  to  show  a 
good  example  to  Hindu  Christians,  many  of  whom  retain 


THE  BRlrtSH   GOVERNMENT   IN  INDIA.  391 

their  heathen  prejudices  against  marrying  a  widow.  Mrs. 
Weitbrecht  had  communicated  with  Lukhy,  who  is  young, 
nice-looking,  and  has  two  pretty  children,  and  she  appeared 
quite  willing  to  enter  on  the  match.  We  believe  both  parties 
to  be  sincere  Christians.  Our  good  catechists  entertained 
Bondhu  very  kindly,  and  he  and  Lukhy  seemed  mutually 
pleased  on  meeting.  These  simple  people  have  each  made 
their  union  a  subject  of  prayer,  and  Bondhu  told  me  he  was 
so  happy  to  find  Lukhy  had  two  children,  as  he  had  none. 
He  stopped  with  our  people  some  days.  I  confess  I  admire 
this  point  in  the  Hindu  Christians.  They  '  use  hospitality  ono 
to  another  without  grudging.'  I  married  this  couple  with 
real  pleasure,  and  another  good  girl,  Elizabeth,  was  married 
at  the  same  time  to  an  equally  good  man,  though  not  a  cat- 
echist.  It  is  always  a  satisfaction  to  us  to  see  our  orphan 
girls  settling  respectably,  and  becoming  the  heads  of  Christian 
families.  In  this  way  '  the  little  one  may  become  a  thousand.' 
Bondhu  has  to  return  to  Monghir,  above  two  hundred  miles  ; 
he  is  living  there  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Hurter." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  subsequently  informed  of  the  truly 
satisfactory  conduct  of  these  good  people,  and  he  always  con- 
tinued to  feel  a  peculiar  interest  in  them.  It  is  indeed  cause 
for  joy  when  the  poor,  weak  native  converts  run  well,  without 
being  hindered ;  and  such  an  assurance  imparts  to  the  mind 
of  the  missionary,  that  kind  of  encouragement  which  he  can 
not  derive  from  other  sources. 

"12^A. — I  was  conversing  with  a  Pundit  to-day,  and  asked 
him  what  he  thought  of  the  present  government,  compared 
with  that  of  the  Mohammedans.  His  answer  was  remarka- 
ble. It  is  a  government  of  mercy  ;  every  body  gets  right 
and  justice.  The  Mussulman  government  was  oppressive 
and  bad.  If  a  man  ventured  to  build  himself  a  brick  house, 
he  was  imprisoned  and  robbed  of  every  thing,  and  often 
otherwise  maltreated,  unless  he  paid  a  price,  or  gave  a  present. 


392  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


far  exceeding  the  value  of  the  house.  If  one  even  wore  a 
good  dress,  or  reposed  on  a  round  pillow,  he  was  soon 
noticed,  and  had  to  suffer  for  it ;  whereas  now,  if  a  man  has 
sense  and  spirit,  he  can  get  rich  by  trade,  make  himself  com- 
fortable, and  no  body  can  annoy  him." 

This  opinion  was  no  doubt  given  in  all  sincerity.  A  simi- 
lar one  was  not  unfrequently  expressed  to  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
in  his  intercourse  with  intelligent  natives;  and  he  often  said 
that,  however  much  the  Company's  Government  failed  in  its 
duty  in  some  respects,  and  however  much  he  longed  to  see 
many  things  ordered  otherwise,  he  had  the  impression,  from 
his  intimate  knowledge  of  the  poorer  classes  of  the  people, 
that  it  was  really  and  essentially  a  kind  and  paternal  gov- 
ernment.* 

To  the  Rev.  M.  M.  Preston. 

"  BuRDWAN,  April  4,  1849. 
"  My  Dear  Sir  :  .  .  .  .  Dear  brother  Wilkinson  has 
been  called  to  his  reward,  and  I  am  now  one  of  the  seniors 
in  Northern  India.  I  am  going  to  preach  a  jubilee  sermon 
on  Easter-day,  a  very  suitable  season  for  such  a  commemora- 
tion The  sweet  spirit  of  union  and  love  now  hap- 
pily prevailing  among  our  missionary  circles  in  these  parts, 
is  very  encouraging,  and  is,  I  hope,  a  sign  that  the  Lord  has 

*  A  Brahmun  of  the  old  school  was  conversing  with  an  English  gen- 
tleman, and  expressed  his  satisfaction  that  Moolraj  and  Shere  Sing  had 
been  made  prisoners  of  war.  "Why  are  you  so  pleased?"  inquired  the 
gentleman.  The  old  man  replied:  "  This  government  is  remarkable  for 
justice.  True,  it  has  taken  our  rent-free  lands,  but  I  do  not  think  it  will 
touch  the  little  left.  Our  Mussulman  rulers  were  tyrants,  and  we  know 
nothing  of  the  Sikhs.  Yes,  the  English  government  is  very  just ;  and  as 
for  its  power,  why  it  can  make  the  ox  and  the  tiger  drink  out  of  the  same 
tank.  In  your  courts  the  rajah  and  the  peasant  stand  side  by  side.^^  Who 
will,  after  this,  venture  to  uphold  the  physical-force  doctrine,  and  to  say 
that  the  British  government  in  India  is  not  founded  on  opinion  ?" 


BISHOP  WILSON  AND  TRACTARIANISM. 


393 


great  blessings  in  store  for  us.  Our  half-yearly  conferences 
tend  much  to  produce  harmony  and  mutual  fellowship. 

"  Our  dear  venerated  bishop  has  lately  returned  to  Cal- 
cutta from  his  metropolitan  visitation;  it  appears  his  labors 
have  been  very  much  blessed  ;  his  charges  and  exhortations 
to  the  clergy  were  rich  effusions  of  heavenly  wisdom  and 
grace. 

"  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  has  just  been  reading  to  me  a  part  of 
his  reply  to  the  address  of  the  clergy  of  Madras.  I  am  sure 
you  will  be  delighted  with  the  following  paragraph,  breath- 
ing as  it  does  a  sweet  apostolic  spirit  of  love :  '  Let  me 
remind  you,  that  however  desirable  and  excellent  the  order 
of  the  Church  of  England  is,  we  are  not  to  regard  it  as  essen- 
tial; as  if  it  were  laid  down  in  Scripture.  We  hold  that  it 
is  not  contrary  to  Scripture,  but  that  is  very  different  to 
making  it  binding  on  men,  as  if  it  were  all  positively  enjoined. 
Each  Church  has  a  right  to  its  own  order,  so  that  it  be  not 
contrary  to  the  Word  of  God.  God  forbid  that  I  should 
unchristianize  other  churches,  because  they  do  not  adopt  the 
same  form  and  discipline  !  Nay,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say, 
that  many  a  poor  dissenting  minister,  who  is  living  near  to 
God,  preaching  Christ  crucified,  and  laying  out  his  energies 
for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-men,  may  be  more  acceptable  in 
the  sight  of  God  than  an  archbishop.'  This  is  sound  solid 
food  for  the  morbid  and  fanciful  appetite  of  some  of  our 
exclusive  pharisaical  clergy,  who  are  bitten  by  Tractarian 
notions.  Perhaps  you  have  not  heard,  that  the  good  bishop 
met  with  an  accident  on  board  the  brig,  which  might  have 
proved  serious.  While  walking  on  deck,  he  fell  down  the 
main  hatchway,  but  escaped  with  a  few  bruises.  May  the 
Lord  spare  his  precious  life,  for  some  years  to  come !  Never 
shall  I  forget  his  tender  affection  to  me,  when  ill  in  October 
last.  I  spent  an  evening  with  him.  He  comforted  me  like 
an  affectionate  brother,  and  prayed  for  me  so  as  to  do  my 
heart  good. 


394  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

"  We  are  now  rejoicing  in  India,  and  offering  up  public 
and  private  thanksgiving  for  the  signal  victory  at  Gujerat, 
and  the  approaching  termination  of  the  dreadful  war  with 
the  Sikhs.  What  a  merciful  deliverance  after  those  fearful 
battles,  when  it  seemed  as  if  the  Lord  were  about  to  inflict 
yet  severer  chastisement  on  us  for  unfaithfulness !  The 
Punjab  will  now  become  a  British  province.  A  number  of 
commissioners  and  civil  officers  have  already  been  appointed. 
....  Yours,  with  much  esteem  and  affection, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

Some  remarks  that  occur  in  a  letter  of  this  date  are  worth 
transcribing,  as  they  touch  on  a  subject  which  often  engaged 
Mr.  Weitbrecht's  attention : 

"Jlfay,  1849. — Our  good  brother  Krauss  is  ill ;  and  since 
the  death  of  his  eldest  child  he  has  been  brought  very  low. 
His  wife  is  also  suffering.  The  fact  is,  that  after  ten  years' 
labor,  most  missionaries  in  this  climate  want  a  renewing,  or 
they  will  droop  and  die.  I  wish  some  of  our  English  breth- 
ren who  have  left  the  field  of  late  years,  had  been  able  to 
show  as  good  reasons  for  directing  their  faces  to  England,  as 
poor  Krauss  would  have ;  but  not  all  have  grace  to  stand 
the  fiery  trial  of  patient,  persevering,  faithful  labor,  and 
pressing  onward  for  the  crown,  the  missionary'^ s  crown  !  I 
liked  your  remarks  on  this  subject  in  a  late  letter.  The 
facility  with  which  a  retired  missionary  can  get  a  curacy,  is 
certainly  a  temptation  to  one,  to  exchange  the  jungles  of 
Bengal  for  the  pleasant  green  fields  and  gardens  of  our  father- 
land ;  but,  if  heaven  is  our  home^  then  let  '  Be  thou  faithful 
unto  death'  be  our  motto.  Leupolt  says,  '  No  real  mission- 
ary will  ever  leave  his  work  ;'  and  I  believe  he  is  correct. 
A  real  missionary  will  rather  die  at  his  post  than  retire,  as 
any  brave  soldier  would  do.  Dear  Krauss,  in  a  letter  I 
have  just  received  from  him,  makes  this  very  remark  :  '  I 
would  rather  die  among  my  flock,'  he  writes,  '  if  this  were 


ATTACKS  OF  ILLNESS. 


395 


the  will  of  God,  than  seek  for  health  in  Europe,  and  leave 
the  poor  people  neglected.'  These  remarks  by  no  means 
apply  to  a  return  for  recruiting  one's  health  for  a  season ;  or 
to  those  who  are  spared  so  long  that  they  become  really 
unequal  to  continue.  Not  many  instances  of  the  latter 
occur,  however." 

21th. — The  journal  of  this  date  alludes  to  the  death  of  a 
native  Christian  youth,  who  had  been  hopeful  as  a  child,  but 
had  afterwards  led  a  wicked  and  profligate  life,  and  having 
sown  to  the  flesh,  had  of  the  flesh  reaped  corruption.  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  description  of  him,  and  of  his  visits  to  him  in 
his  illness,  are  very  aflecting,  and  would,  if  written  out,  form 
a  striking  tract.  He  used  every  possible  means  to  do  him 
good,  but  the  poor  wretched  man  cried  out  at  last,  "  I  can 
not  repent ;  I  can  not  believe !"  "  Awful  truth  !"  adds  he, 
"  showing  us,  that  a  death-bed  is  not  the  time  for  grace  and 
life  to  be  obtained,  when  light  and  instruction  have  been 
resisted  in  health." 

The  attacks  to  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  so  often  subject, 
when  from  home,  could  not  but  cause  much  anxiety  to  his 
wife  during  his  frequent  absences.  She  sometimes  ventured 
to  remonstrate  with  him  on  the  subject,  and  to  suggest  the 
desirableness  of  a  thorough  change  of  climate,  offering  to 
remain  in  charge  of  her  portion  of  the  work,  if  he  would 
consent  to  take  a  year's  leave.  His  uniform  reply  was  :  "  I 
can  not  perceive  that  the  way  is  clear  for  me  to  go,  unless 
our  Society  could  send  a  brother  to  perform  part  of  my 
duty.  If  it  be  right  that  I  should  retire  for  a  season,  I  am 
sure  the  Lord  will  show  it  me  so  plainly  that  I  can  not  mis- 
take it."  There  was  no  sin  he  was  more  jealous  of  commit- 
ting, than  that  of  missionary  unfaithfulness,  of  being  found 
guilty  of  putting  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  turning  back. 
He  was  doubtless  right ;  and  though  the  event  has  proved, 
that  his  wife's  fears  were  not  unfounded,  it  can  not  be  sup* 


396  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

posed  that  his  life  would  have  been  prolonged  beyond  the 
appointed  time,  had  he  even  withdrawn  from  his  sphere  on 
account  of  health.  If  not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  with- 
out divine  permission,  we  may  rest  confident,  that  not  one 
of  God's  dear  servants  can  do  so,  for  the  lives  of  His  saints 
are  as  precious  in  His  sight  as  their  death  is.  Though  unbe- 
lief, therefore,  may  sometimes  tempt  us  to  regret  that  a  dif- 
ferent course  was  not  followed,  we  may  reply,  in  Cowper's 
beautiful  lines : 

"  Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  err, 
And  scan  His  work  in  vain ; 
G-od  is  His  own  interpreter, 
And  He  will  make  it  plain." 

"  In  the  great  mirror  of  eternity,  all  the  events  of  this 
checkered  scene  will  be  reflected  ;  the  darkest  of  them  will 
then  be  seen  to  be  bright  with  mercy." 

Shortly  afterwards,  the  painful  intelligence  of  the  sudden 
death  of  his  beloved  convert  Koilas  reached  him.  He  rose 
in  health,  breakfasted,  and  prepared  for  his  usual  employ- 
ment. Haemorrhage  came  on  as  he  was  leaving  his  house, 
and  in  six  hours  he  was  a  corpse.  "  No  one  spoke  to  him  of 
eternity,"  adds  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  "  and  I  fear  that  his  desire 
to  become  rich  had  estranged  his  heart  from  God,  so  that  I 
have  not  the  comfortable  assurance  regarding  him,  that 
would  have  removed  the  sting  of  the  sad  news.  His  poor 
wife  Pearee  had  died  a  few  months  before  of  lock-jaw,  caused 
by  an  accident,  and  she  wished  her  little  girl  to  be  made 
over  to  M.,  but  we  can  not  get  the  child  given  up  to  us. 

"  My  chest  is  affected  again  as  the  rainy  season  advances, 
and  this  prevents  my  preaching  in  the  open  air;  which  is  to 
me  a  great  trial  of  faith  and  patience,  I  do  so  delight  to  be 
in  my  Master's  work,  as  long  as  I  am  in  this  heathen  land ; 
but  the  Lord,  doubtless,  knows  what  is  good  for  me  and  for 


DEATH  OF  MR.  KRAUSS. 


W7 


His  own  cause.  Oh !  may  I  receive  grace,  to  bow  cheerfully 
to  His  will  in  trials  and  in  joy  !" 

The  next  paragraph  records  another  instance  of  an  answer 
to  earnest  prayer : 

"  The  Lord  has  heard  my  prayer,  and  sent  deliverance 
from  Zion.  My  chest  is  gradually  getting  better,  and  the 
cough  disappearing.  I  can  walk  freely,  without  my  breath 
being  affected.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !  This  is  a 
mercy  indeed,  and  it  occurs  just  at  the  most  unfavorable 
season,  when  I  had  reason  to  apprehend  a  return  of  the  com 
plaint.  Now  I  look  forward  to  preaching  in  the  bazaar 
again.  The  Lord  bringeth  low  and  raiseth  up.  He  wound- 
eth,  and  His  hands  make  whole.  I  have  met  with  Simeon's 
Life  and  read  it  with  very  great  enjoyment ;  it  did  my 
heart  good." 

October  16. — This  morning  a  note  arrived,  with  the  sad 
news  of  dear  brother  Krauss's  removal.  Alas  !  my  brother. 
He  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord  on  Sabbath  morning ;  and  just 
as  his  spirit  had  taken  its  flight,  I  was  engaged  preaching 
from  Mark  8  :  34-36.  Little  did  I  imagine,  I  was  preach- 
ing as  it  were  his  funeral  sermon.  Thus  one  dear  friend 
after  another  departs  to  his  eternal  rest.  May  the  Lord 
comfort  our  sorrowing  sister  in  her  deep  distress  ! 

"  The  circumstances  connected  with  his  death  are  trying 
to  the  faith,  for  it  appears  to  have  arisen  from  indisposition, 
that  has  long  hung  about  him  and  was  neglected.  Humanly 
speaking,  he  ought  to  have  left  India  months  ago,  when  Mr. 
Pratt  and  ourselves  strongly  advised  him  to  do  so ;  but  he 
yielded  to  other  influence,  and  we  know  well  that  our  times 
are  in  God's  hands.  He  died  at  Chinsurah,  where  he  had 
come  for  medical  aid,  but  he  arrived  too  late  for  the  help 
of  man  to  avail.  He  was  there  but  two  days,  and  eflusion 
on  the  brain  having  caused  delirium,  he  spoke  incoherently, 
and  often  sung  German  hymns.    Sometimes  he  preached  in 


398  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

Bengali,  but  one  of  his  last  expressions  was  in  English, 
'  Work  while  it  is  called  to-day,  the  night  cometh.'  When 
his  poor  wife  inquired  of  him,  during  a  lucid  interval,  if  he 
felt  prepared  should  it  be  the  Lord's  pleasure  to  call  him 
home,  he  replied,  '  Quite  prepared,'  and  repeated  the  words 
twice.  The  dear  brother  had  never  quite  rallied  after  the 
loss  of  his  child." 

The  letter  which  follows  was  written  to  Mrs.  Krauss, 
upon  hearing  the  painful  news  : 

To  Mrs.  Krauss. 

"BuRDWAN,  October  17,  1849. 
"  My  Dear  Afflicted  Friend  :  Little  did  I  imagine,  when 
I  penned  my  letter  to  you  last  Monday,  tha*  your  beloved 
husband  was  then  no  more  in  the  land  of  the  living.  The 
stroke  is  so  unexpected,  when  my  dear  wife  read  Miss 
Hebron's  letter,  the  news  went  like  a  dart  through  my 
heart.  I  looked  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  both  once 
more,  a  few  days  hence.  Alas  !  my  brother.  Need  I  say, 
how  cordially  we  feel  and  sorrow  with  you.  I  am  sure  the 
Lord  will  hear  our  prayers  for  you,  and  give  you  such  a 
measure  of  grace,  as  shall  bear  you  up  amidst  the  stormy 
wind  and  billows.  Who  would  have  thought  that  the  man- 
ly frame  would  so  soon  sink  into  the  dust,  and  wither  as 
the  flower  of  the  field ! — yea,  as  a  fine  fruit  bearing  tree  has 
he  been  cut  down.  But  it  is  not  desirable  to  dwell  much 
upon  the  event.  Let  us  look  up,  my  dear  sister.  The  Lord 
reign eth ;  Jesus  is  not  dead,  but  liveth  for  evermore.  I 
trust,  therefore,  you  do  not  sorrow  as  those  who  have  no 
hope.  You  know  better;  you  know  God's  providential 
dealings  are  calculated  altogether  for  preparing  us  for  a 
happy  eternity,  and  not  so  much  with  a  view  to  our  present 
span  of  life.    Try  to  realize  the  comfortable  thought,  that 


Death  of  dr.  haberlin. 


399 


Jesus  Christ,  who  shed  His  precious  blood  for  you,  remem- 
bers you  in  imspeakable  love,  especially  now^  when  you  feel 
deprived  of  your  main  support,  and  are  cast  entirely  upon 
Him.  He  is  our  sure  refuge  and  hiding-place.  (Isaiah  32  : 
2.)  '  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is 
stayed  on  Thee,  because  he  trusteth  in  Thee.  Trust  ye  in 
the  Lord  for  ever :  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting 
strength.'  (Isaiah  26  :  3,  4.)  '  This  is  an  eternal  truth, 
dearest  friend ;  hold  fast  by  it,  and  you  will  be  safe."  *  *  * 

The  journal  goes  on  to  record  various  engagements  in 
connection  with  the  conference  ;  but  the  death  of  Mr.  Krauss 
cast  a  feeling  of  sadness  over  the  meeting.  It  is  remarka- 
ble, that  he  had  just  finished  the  translation  of  the  burial 
service  into  the  Bengali.  "  I  wrote,"  remarks  Mr.  W.,  "  a 
letter  to  the  poor  widow  in  the  name  of  the  brethren,  and 
sent  her  the  resolution  we  drew  up,  which  expressed  our 
deepest  sympathy,  both  with  her  and  the  bereaved  mission, 
as  well  as  our  personal  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  our  esteemed 
and  valued  brother." 

Another  entry  in  November,  after  his  return  to  Burdwan, 
refers  to  the  death  of  Dr.  Haberlin,  who  was  struck  down 
by  sickness  a  few  weeks  before,  and  left  Dacca  in  a  boat, 
with  his  enfeebled  partner,  to  proceed  to  Calcutta,  and  em- 
bark for  Europe.  Just  as  they  had  reached  the  entrance  to 
the  Sunderbuns,  in  those  wild  regions  where  the  silence  is 
at  times  broken  by  the  tiger's  roar,  poor  Dr.  Haberlin 
breathed  his  last,  on  a  Sabbath  morning.  They  were  hap- 
pily near  a  station  ;  and  when  the  distressing  circumstance 
was  made  known  through  the  servants,  who  were  the  only 
individuals  left  with  the  bereaved  widow,  kind  and  sympa- 
thizing friends  hastened  to  her  relief,  and  took  her  to  their 
house,  where  she  lay  for  nearly  a  week  so  ill  as  not  to  be 
expected  to  survive  her  husband.  Her  condition  was  in- 
deed one  of  unutterable  sorrow ;  but  the  Lord  spared  her 


400         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  raised  her  up,  and  so  strengthened  her,  both  in  body 
and  in  spirit,  that  she  was  enabled  to  remain  in  India,  and 
continue  her  invaluable  labors  in  the  cause  of  native  female 
education.  "  She  bears  her  cross  with  sweet  resignation,  as 
a  true  Christian,"  writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  who  felt  this  event 
deeply  ;  and  on  a  subsequent  mission  tour,  he  drew  up  an 
affectionate  memorial  of  his  departed  brother.  He  also  in- 
terested himself  for  the  poor  brethren,  who  were  left  unpro- 
vided for  at  Dacca  by  this  sad  event ;  and  he  invited  two 
of  them  to  Burdwan,  till  their  future  way  should  be  made 
clear. 

"  Never  shall  I  forget,"  observes  one  of  these  brethren, 
my  first  meeting  him  in  his  house.  He  received  us  with 
the  utmost  kindness,  though  we  were  personally  unknown 
to  him  before ;  and  we  felt  that  his  welcome  came  from  a 
heart  full  of  love  to  his  Saviour  and  his  fellow-men.  His 
brotherly  affection  could  never  be  mistaken  for  mere  polite- 
ness, it  was  so  cordial,  so  hearty,  though  at  the  same  time 
so  dignified  and  gentle.  I  shall  ever  regard  my  acquaint- 
ance and  intercourse  with  him,  as  one  of  the  greatest  bless- 
ings vouchsafed  to  me  on  entering  the  mission  field.  No- 
thing can  be  more  encouraging  for  a  young  man,  just  joining 
the  band  of  the  messengers  of  peace  in  a  heathen  country, 
than  to  be  thus  welcomed  by  an  old,  experienced,  and  de- 
voted laborer.  The  very  first  evening  of  our  stay  he  had  a 
prayer-meeting  with  us,  in  which  he  poured  out  his  heart  in 
supplications  and  thanksgivings  on  our  behalf,  as  was  his 
wont.  I  felt  at  once  what  a  privilege  it  would  be  for  me, 
could  I  be  stationed  near  this  gifted  and  devoted  servant  of 
his  Lord,  for  his  character  was  a  most  harmonious  combina- 
tion of  many  fine  qualities.  It  was  not  only  his  sound  and 
solid  piety  which  so  endeared  him  to  me,  but  his  cheerful, 
amiable  disposition,  which  led  him  to  enter  warmly  at  once 
into  the  circumstances  and  interests  of  others,  and  to  win 


DILIGENCE. 


401 


their  hearts ;  vhile  his  firmness,  decision,  and  clear,  sound 
judgment  secured  as  quickly  their  esteem." 

A  few  more  remarks  from  the  same  pen  refer  to  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  diligence,  which  was  the  chief  secret  of  his 
great  usefulness.  To  the  apostolic  injunction  respecting 
'•redeeming  the  time,"  he  conscientiously  adhered;  and  to 
know  well  how  he  did  it,  one  must  have  lived  with  him  for 
some  time.  "  He  allowed  himself  little  interval  for  recrea- 
tion, which  seemed  to  come  to  him  by  change  of  employ- 
ment. From  early  in  the  morning  till  late  in  the  evening, 
he  was  occupied  in  preaching,  translating,  composing,  super- 
intending schools,  and  correspondence.  The  latter  he  car- 
ried on  with  a  regularity,  which  is  not  often  seen  in  men 
doing  the  same  amount  of  active  labor.  He  was  prompt 
and  punctual,  and  went  with  spirit  and  alacrity,  through 
every  thing  he  undertook  :  and  this,  I  believe,  gave  him  lei- 
sure to  converse  with  his  absent  friends.  A  day  is  coming 
that  will  reveal  the  great  good  he  effected  in  this  way ;  for 
in  all  his  letters  this  was  his  grand  object."  Though  his 
numerous  correspondents  were  scattered  nearly  all  over  the 
world,  yet  he  entered  warmly  into  their  concerns,  temporal 
and  spiritual,  and  encouraged  them  to  faithfulness  and  ac- 
tivity in  the  Lord's  service,  as  well  as  warned  them  against 
the  peculiar  dangers  besetting  their  paths,  and  cheered  them 
under  their  trials  and  difficulties.  And  more  especially  did 
he  maintain  Christian  fellowship  by  stirring  up,  both  in  him- 
self and  others,  zeal  and  love  towards  their  common  Lord. 
This  surely  was  the  kind  of  correspondence  which,  as  the 
sainted  Bickersteth  remarked,  he  would  have  "  counted  it  a 
pleasure  to  read  even  in  heaven."  He  was  a  strong  opponent 
of  the  mere  extension  of  the  outward  Church,  under  the  idea 
that  religious  ordinances  would  change  the  heart  of  the  nom- 
inal convert ;  and  he  assured  me  that  he  had  rejected  numbers 
because,  although  they  would  ha  'T^e  added  to  the  relative  im- 


402  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

portance  of  his  own  mission,  he  believed  their  acceptance 
would  have  retarded  the  general  establishment  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  the  country. 

"  In  his  preaching  to  the  heathen,  he  rather  avoided  con- 
troversial subjects.  On  one  occasion,  after  he  had  address- 
ed a  large  assembly,  who  listened  with  great  attention,  he 
was  followed  by  one  of  his  catechists,  who  spoke  in  a  more 
polemical  strain,  and  the  consequence  was  a  complete  up- 
roar among  the  crowd,  which  put  an  end  to  the  preaching 
for  that  day.  He  told  me  this  was  usually  the  effect  of 
direct  controversy ;  so  he  preferred,  as  a  general  rule,  the 
simple  exposition  of  the  Gospel.  I  observed,  however,  that 
before  going  to  preach,  he  invariably  sat  down  with  pen  and 
paper,  and  spent  some  time  in  preparation  for  his  address ; 
and  there  was  in  consequence  a  wonderful  freshness  and 
variety  about  his  sermons,  which  those  who  preach  extem- 
poraneously, without  previous  thought,  never  attain. 

"  On  our  return  to  Burdwan,  I  heard  him  preach  in  Eng- 
lish several  times,  and  never  listened  to  a  more  interesting 
and  winning  preacher.  He  read  his  English  sermons,  but 
with  so  much  heartfelt  earnestness,  that  it  was  impossible 
not  to  attend  to  every  word  that  fell  from  his  lips  ;  and  for 
the  happy  combination  of  force  and  simplicity^  his  sermons 
struck  me  more  than  any  lever  heard.  The  attention  mani- 
fested by  a  small  but  educated  congregation,  was  edifying 
to  witness ;  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  fixed  and  reverential 
look  of  one  young  man,  who  was,  alas  !  engaged  in  the  gaye- 
ties  and  follies  of  the  world,  but  who  spoke  to  me  afterwards 
with  such  deep  affection  for  his  pastor,  that  I  could  but  hope, 
he  might  eventually  receive  in  their  power  the  truths  which 
he  taught. 

"  His  new  church  was  opened  during  my  visit,  and  I  was 
delighted  to  observe  the  respect  which  the  heathen  prince, 
who  was  present,  evidently  entertained  for  the  holy  mission- 


OPENING  OF  THE  NEW  CHURCH. 


403 


ary,  and  his  great  personal  kindness  towards  him.  I  left 
Burdwan  a  wiser,  and  I  hope  a  better  man,  for  my  visit.  .  .  . 
I  saw  my  brother  for  the  last  time  in  his  coffin ;  his  features 
bearing  the  rigid  stamp  of  death ;  but  a  calm  and  peaceful 
look  betokened  it  to  have  been  the  blessed  death  of  those 
who  sleep  in  Jesus ;  and  I  had  the  melancholy  gratification 
of  helping  to  carry  his  loved  remains  to  that  grave,  where 
they  await  the  morning  of  the  resurrection." 

To  a  sister  he  writes :  "  Christmas-day  was  a  great  and 
happy  day  with  us.  I  wish  you  could  have  witnessed  the 
beautiful  scene.  I  had  given  notice  beforehand  that  the  new 
church  would  be  opened  for  divine  service,  and  my  expecta- 
tions were  more  than  realized.  The  building  was  quite  fill- 
ed. Every  European  in  the  station  was  present,  and  various 
shades  of  color  could  be  observed  among  the  congregation. 
Of  course  the  larger  number  were  Hindus,  of  whom  there 
were  between  three  and  four  hundred ;  the  chief  of  them 
were,  alas!  heathen  and  Mohammedans.  The  Rajah  of 
Burdwan  was  dressed  in  all  the  splendor  of  an  oriental  prince, 
and  looked  very  handsome.  His  suite  was  also  present,  and 
their  behavior  was  remarkably  decorous.  The  Rajah  follow- 
ed the  service  in  the  prayer-book,  as  Mr.  Geidt  read  the 
prayers,  and  listened  with  much  apparent  devotion  while  I 
preached  from  Isaiah  40  :  9,  '  O  Zion,  that  bringest  good  tid- 
ings,' etc.  I  truly  believe  the  Lord  Jesus  was  in  the  midst 
of  us.  The  school  children  were  in  the  gallery,  and  sung  a 
beautiful  Christmas  hymn.  A  collection  was  made,  the  re- 
sult of  which  was  most  gratifying.  Surely  the  Lord  will 
hear  the  prayers  that  have  been  offered  up  on  this  solemn 
occasion,  and  set  up  His  Zion  at  this  place,  and  make  Him- 
self a  glorious  name  among  the  heathen  by  the  conversion 
of  great  numbers,  through  the  preaching  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel. 

"  In  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Geidt  preached  in  Bengali,  and  at 


404  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WETTBRECHT. 

sunset  we  invited  the  native  Christians  to  an  ample  dinner, 
which  was  served  under  a  large  pepul-tree  near  the  church. 
One  hundred  and  seventy-five  persons  sat  down,  and  truly 
it  might  be  said,  '  All  the  men  of  Israel  rejoiced  greatly.' 
Some  Christian  friends  witnessed  the  pleasing  scene,  with 
whom  we  afterwards  dined  ourselves,  and  concluded  our  day 
with  social  prayer.  Such  a  Christmas-day  I  have  never  seen 
in  India. 

DIGEST  OF  THE  REPORT  OF  THE  BURDWAN  MISSION. 

In  its  general  aspect  no  striking  change  has  occurred,  and 
the  numerical  increase  of  our  Christian  flock  has  been  but 
small,  but  there  has  been  internal  growth  and  advancement. 
Our  number  is  one  hundred  and  eighty,  and  among  our  na- 
tive helpers  many  pleasing  instances  of  true  faithfulness  and 
zeal  have  been  apparent.  Some  of  these  men  have  now 
been  tried  by  long  and  faithful  service,  and  their  sweet  spi- 
rit of  piety  has  often  cheered  our  hearts.  The  progress  of 
vital  religion  in  a  native  Christian  congregation  resembles  the 
slow,  quiet  growth  of  the  oak,  or  the  gentle  flowing  of  a  re- 
tired rivulet.  In  tracing  its  onward  progress  we  take  cour- 
age, in  confident  expectation  that  the  divine  promise,  in 
Isaiah  35  :  1,  will  at  length  be  realized  in  Bengal. 

"  Our  schools  for  Christian  and  orphan  boys  and  girls,  and 
our  infant  and  Sabbath-schools,  all  bear  a  hopeful  character. 
Five  nice  youths,  trained  in  the  former,  now  act  as  assistant 
teachers  in  the  various  Bengali  and  English  schools  of  our 
mission,  but  during  their  leisure  hours  they  continue  to  stu- 
dy. Several  of  the  elder  girls  take  an  active  part  in  teach- 
ing the  younger,  and  bid  fair  to  become  superior  teachers. 
The  open  frankness  and  cheerful  disposition  of  the  girls  show, 
that  their  training  has  had  a  happy  effect,  and  some  pleas- 
ing signs  of  true  piety  are  manifest  amongst  them.  The  in- 
struction of  both  boys  and  girls  is  carried  on  in  the  lower 


REPORT  OF  THE  MISSION. 


405 


apartments  of  the  mission-house,  in  separate  rooms.  Mr. 
Geidt  gives  them  singing  lessons.  We  long  to  see  the  day 
when  these  Christian  schools,  upon  which  such  particular 
care  is  bestowed,  shall  be  filled  with  double  their  present 
number.  These  three  schools  cost  us  about  1000  Rs.  per 
annum.  The  vernacular  schools  under  Mr.  Geidt  are  -in  an 
efficient  state,  and  in  the  English  school  we  have  a  good  at- 
tendance. 

"  Our  preaching  to  the  heathen  still  resembles  prophesy- 
ing to  dry  bones ;  but  God's  great  and  gracious  purposes 
will  be  accomplished  in  due  time.  To  temper  zeal  with  pa- 
tience and  steadfast  perseverance,  is  a  needful  lesson  for  the 
missionary  in  India  to  learn  and  practise.  A  zealous  cler- 
gyman at  home  gets  at  any  rate  his  church  filled  with  atten- 
tive hearers :  but  we  have  to  act  upon  a  senseless,  apathetic 
race,  who  are  often  captious  and  even  scurrilous. 

"  Our  new  mission  church  has  been  finished  and  opened. 
It  has  cost  about  10,000  Rs.  The  Governor  of  Bengal  has 
granted  the  old  chapel,  for  the  use  of  the  Church  Missiona- 
ry Society. 

"  During  the  year  I  have  collected,  or  had  presented  vo- 
luntarily to  us  about  3339  Rs.,  which  have  been  expended 
for  the  objects  of  the  mission.  This  sum  includes  the  do- 
nations for  the  church  and  the  Calcutta  Bible  Society."* 

*  The  information  relative  to  the  amount  of  money  collected  was  an- 
nexed to  the  Report,  in  compliance  with  the  wish  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Calcutta  Corresponding  Committee,  to  enable  him  to  make  a  calcu- 
lation of  the  entire  sum  annually  raised  in  India  itself  for  missionary  pur- 
poses. A  considerable  part  of  that  presented  to  Mr.  "Weitbrecht  was  for 
ministerial  offices,  performed  for  Europeans  and  others. 


406         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Incidents  on  Tour— Hospitality  of  Hindus — Visit  to  Krishnaghur— Let- 
ter to  his  Son — Happy  Deaths — Hurricane — Letter  to  Mr.  Venn — 
Death  of  his  Brother — Baptism  of  two  Hindu  Youths— Deaths  of  Ehza- 
beth  and  Kripa — Letter  to  a  Missionary  Student — Departure  of  his 
"Wife  and  Children  for  Europe — Incidents. 

1850—1851. 

The  beginning  of  January,  1850,  found  Mr.  Weitbrecht  on 
a  tour  with  his  wife  and  children.  We  give  some  extracts 
from  his  journal : 

*  *  *  Some  men  asked  him,  why  he  did  not  visit  them 
oftener  than  once  a  year,  if  he  desired  to  gather  them  into 
the  fold  of  Christ  1  "  Let  me  but  see  in  you,"  said  he,  "a 
willingness  to  hear,  and  you  shall  see  me  often."  As  he 
was  returning  home,  he  overtook  the  young  schoolmaster 
and  a  friend,  who  were  arguing  together  in  English  as  they 
walked  along.  One  took  the  part  of  an  atheist,  and  reason- 
ed away,  in  grand  style,  on  the  eternity  of  matter,  "  which," 
said  he,  "  produces  the  results  we  witness  in  creation,  by  its 
own  inherent  organic  laws."  "But  who  made  these  laws'?" 
inquired  his  companion.  This  pertinent  question  produced 
a  pause  in  the  debate,  and  Mr.  W.  interposed.  "I  will  give 
you,"  said  he,  "  a  subject  for  discussion  which  has  engaged 
the  deepest  research  of  philosophers,  and  which  the  genius 


TRANSLATES  HYMNS. 


407 


of  Christianity  alone  can  solve.  The  question  is  this — '■How 
can  a  man  become  righteous  before  Godf^''  He  then  pro- 
posed the  following  points  for  their  consideration:  "1.  Man 
is  a  sinner,  having  transgressed  God's  moral  law.  2.  Man 
is,  therefore,  in  a  state  of  guilt.  3.  By  the  divine  law,  the 
guilty  must  suffer  punishment.  4.  By  a  few  good  actions, 
or  expressions  of  sorrow,  the  sentence  of  the  law  can  not  be 
reversed.  5.  Christ,  the  incarnate  Son  of  God,  suffered  the 
penalty  of  the  law  in  man's  place.  6.  Believe  in  this  divine 
Mediator,  and  you  will  receive  His  justifying  righteousness." 

The  lads  seemed  quite  arrested,  and  cheerfully  promised 
to  search  the  Scriptures,  and  give  these  important  points 
their  serious  attention. 

"  I  could  not  but  remark  the  change  that  has  taken  place," 
said  he,  "  in  the  Hindu  youth.  How  different  was  it  in 
this  neighborhood  eighteen  years  ago,  when  I  first  visited 
it !" 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  change,  and  a  most  wonder- 
ful one,  is  coming  over  the  face  of  society  in  India.  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  views  on  this  point  are  those  of  all  who  know 
the  country  intimately.  He  was  in  a  position  to  judge  of 
this,  from  his  extensive  itinerancies,  and  his  habit  of  marking 
the  distinguishing  features  of  all  he  observed,  or  that  came 
under  his  notice.  He  saw  every  thing  with  the  eye  of  a 
missionary. 

During  this  year  Mr.  Weitbrecht  occupied  all  his  spare 
moments  in  the  preparation  of  Bengali  hymns,  and  with  the 
aid  of  Mr.  Lipp  added  above  seventy  to  tiiose  previously 
existing.  They  wanted  to  make  up  the  number  in  the 
church  hymn-books  to  four  hundred,  and  succeeded  in  their 
desire.  The  missionary  brethren  in  conference  spoke  much 
on  this  subject,  and  agreed  that  for  people  in  the  state  of 
religious  progress  of  the  converts,  good,  sound,  evangelical 
hymns  were  some  of  the  most  useful  helps  they  could  have. 


408         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

The  two  brethren,  who  had  an  ear  for  metre,  therefore  under- 
took to  devote  as  much  of  their  leisure  to  these  compositions 
as  possible.  The  brethren  also  united  in  revising  the  Ben- 
gali prayer-book,  each  taking  part.  He  adds  on  leaving 
Rottenpore  ;  "  I  have  never  seen  a  finer  specimen  of  a  rural 
Christian  village  in  Bengal.  All  the  implements  and  indus- 
trious proceedings  of  Bengali  husbandry  can  be  witnessed 
here.  There  were  some  twenty  cows  and  bullocks  before 
one  cottage  ;  before  another  a  large  harvest  of  tumeric.  In 
another  quarter  they  were  winnowing,  and  the  bullocks  were 
treading  out  the  oil  seeds.  What  would  our  farmers  say  in  ' 
Europe,  if  they  saw  their  people  throwing  away  the  stalk  of 
the  linseed  plant,  the  very  part  which  he  deems  most  valua- 
ble? While  from  home,  Charlotte,  one  of  our  orphan  girls, 
thirteen  years  old,  died.  I  remember  her  well  as  one  of  the 
most  promising,  who  had  been  with  us  from  infancy.  Mr. 
Bost  went  with  M.  to  visit  her,  and  was  much  affected  by 
her  childlike  expressions  of  faith.  She  evidently  loved  good 
things,  and  was  prepared  to  enjoy  them  above.  My  wife 
rejoices  in  the  midst  of  her  sorrow.  This  girl  was  a  great 
favorite  of  dear  Eabee.  Bost  felt  so  much  when  he  officiated 
at  her  funeral,  that  he  could  hardly  proceed,  but  he  gave  the 
other  children  a  very  nice  and  suitable  address." 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  at  Burdwan  again  during  the  latter 
part  of  March,  and  writes  in  Passion-week  :  "  I  enjoyed  the 
remembrance  of  our  Saviour's  sufferings  and  death  very 
much,  and  composed  several  Bengali  hymns  on  the  blessed 
subject." 

The  following  letter  to  his  son  was  written  at  this  time : 

''April  4. 

"My  Dear  Boy:  I  don't  know  whether  you  like  to  receive 
letters.  I  do,  and  should  be  very  glad  if  you  wrote  to  us 
more  frequently.  Mamma,  Henry,  and  Mary  are  rejoicing 
in  the  prospect  of  seeing  you  next  Christmas-day,  but  I  can  , 


FATHERLY   COUNSEL   TO   HIS  SON.  409 

not  hope  for  that  pleasure,  so  I  must  give  you  a  word  of 
fatherly  counsel  on  paper.  You  will  be  eleven  years  old 
this  year  ;  a  period  when  many  boys  become  more  decided 
in  character,  and  understand  and  feel  the  importance  of  dili- 
gence and  industrious  habits,  and  get  up  their  lessons  most 
readily  and  carefully,  while  others,  who  indulge  in  indolence, 
learn  only  what  they  are  compelled.  The  consequence  is, 
that  while  the  former  are  loved  and  receive  a  ^Bene^  or 
'  Optime^  the  others  are  sitting  on  the  lowest  bench,  hon- 
ored with  the  title  of  '  idle  fellows.'  Now,  my  dear  boy,  I 
hope  you  will  do  well,  your  best;  and  let  every  body  see 
that  you  are  in  earnest.  When  I  was  your  age,  I  could 
read  Ovid  and  Virgil,  and  could  speak  Latin  rather  fluently 
with  my  brothers.  Pray  for  God's  good  Spirit,  that  you 
may  be  blessed  in  your  studies,  and  as  you  are  called  a 
Christian  child,  that  you  may  act  as  one,  and  adorn  the 
name.  I  do  not  mean  you  should  not  be  lively  and  cheerful ; 
to  love  our  Saviour  promotes  real  cheerfulness,  even  in  boys ; 
and  when  a  lad  is  truly  pious,  he  has  a  chastened,  meek,  and 
gentle  demeanor  which  endears  him  to  every  body.  Have 
you  read  of  Moses,  whose  face  shone  when  he  came  down 
from  the  mountain,  because  he  had  been  with  God?  So  there 
is  something  in  true  Christians  which  shines.  This  is  divine 
grace^  and  I  want  this  heavenly  grace  to  shine  in  your  cha- 
racter. If  you  pray  in  secret,  and  seek  the  presence  of  J esus, 
you  will  obtain  it.  A  dear  little  boy  here,  named  Samuel^ 
died  a  few  months  ago,  after  being  ill  a  long  time  ;  he  was 
only  eight  years  old,  and  while  he  was  sick  he  went  through 
a  severe  struggle  in  his  mind  because  of  his  sins.  He  prayed 
much,  and  so  did  his  pious  parents,  and  God  heard  them 
and  shined  into  Samuel's  heart  with  His  heavenly  light,  and 
he  then  found  peace  through  the  blood  of  Jesus.  His  father 
was  out  with  me  preaching,  when  this  dear  boy  was  drawing 
near  to  his  last  hour,  and  he  longed  to  see  him  once  more,  so 
18 


410  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

mamma  sent  a  messenger  and  a  note  to  me  to  ask  me  to 
send  him.  I  said  :  '  Nodiachand,  you  must  go  home  without 
delay,  your  dear  boy  is  going,  and  he  wants  to  see  you  once 
more.'  You  can  imagine  how  deeply  I  felt  for  this  poor 
father,  when  he  said :  '  O  sir  !  pray  for  me  that  I  may  be 
enabled  to  bear  this  affliction  with  a  submissive  mind,  and 
that  I  may  resign  my  son  with  the  same  faith  as  Abraham 
did  his  Isaac'  When  he  reached  his  dwelling  Samuel  was 
glad ;  he  spoke  sweetly  of  his  hopes,  told  his  weeping  mother 
to  rejoice  for  him,  joined  in  the  prayer  his  father  offered  at 
his  bedside,  to  commend  his  departing  spirit  to  Jesus,  and 
in  the  morning  he  left  that  bed  of  suffering,  to  go  to  repose 
in  his  Saviour's  bosom.  He  was  born  on  Christmas-day 
nine  years  before,  when  you  were  a  little  fellow,  and  his 
parents  called  him  Samuel,  because  they  had  asked  him 
from  the  Lord.  The  day  after  he  died,  his  mother  had  a 
little  girl  given  in  his  place,  whom  she  named  after  mamma. 
His  eldest  sister  is  a  very  pious  girl,  so  you  see  Hindu 
children  are  pressing  into  the  kingdom  of  God  before  some 
English  ones.  Susannah,  a  little  cousin  of  Samuel's,  died 
a  few  weeks  before  him.  She  was  ill  but  a  short  time,  and 
was  unable  to  pray  or  seek  God  during  that  time,  because 
the  fever  had  affected  her  head,  but  she  had  loved  Him 
while  in  health,  and  she,  too,  had  light  in  her  sickness,  and 
said,  in  her  delirium,  that  she  could  see  angels. 

"These  stories  will  show  you,  that  my  word  of  exhortation 
to  you  is  founded  on  fact. 

"Now,  good  bye,  my  dearest  boy  — Your  affec- 
tionate father,                              J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  next  letter  details  the  particulars  of  a  dreadful  hurricane 
that  took  place  during  April,  which  filled  Mr.  Weitbrecht's 
hands  with  work  of  the  kind  he  so  much  disliked.  It 
often  astonished  others  to  observe,  that  though  he  had  so 


"an  unction  from  the  holy  one."  411 

much  secular  business  in  connection  with  the  mission,  and  did 
it  so  well ;  though  he  built  a  church  and  converted  the  mission- 
house  from  a  most  unhealthy  to  a  most  desirable  dwelling ; 
though  school-houses  were  erected,  embankments  raised,  a 
tank  dug  out  on  the  most  economical  plan,  and  all  was  sym- 
metry and  order  in  the  compound ;  and  though,  through  this 
accumulation  of  duties,  the  constant  process  of  chafing  the 
mind,  so  inseparable  from  dealing  with  cunning  Bengalis, 
was  thus  continually  going  on,  yet  his  simplicity  of  purpose, 
his  devotedness  of  heart,  his  constant  habit  of  turning  to  God, 
and  seeking  His  glory,  in  the  smallest  concerns  connected 
with  his  daily  studies  and  trials,  never  seemed  to  be  affected 
by  this. 

We  may  well  apply  to  him  the  following  beautiful  para- 
graph :  "  He  possessed  what  St.  John  describes  as  an  '  unction 
from  the  Holy  One,'  that  spirit  which  is  predicted  by  the 
prophets  as  the  glory  of  the  Gospel  times,  the  spirit  of  inter- 
course with  God,  of  friendship,  freedom,  lifting  up  of  heart ; 
that  state  of  mind  which  rises  above  the  world,  that  it  may 
inhale  from  the  pure  atmosphere  into  which  it  soars  all  the 
wisdom,  energy,  and  courage  which  may  enable  it  to  act 
most  effectually  with  and  for  that  world ;  that  spirit  which 
is  fruitful  in  all  holy  cogitations  and  majestic  purposes,  which 
views  all  things  round  us  with  security  and  hopefulness, 
because  it  views  them  in  God,  and  which  works  on  all  things 
round  us  with  patience  and  efficiency,  because  it  works  by 
God ;  that  far-seeing  glance  into  futurity,  that  calm  antici- 
pation of  success,  that  quiet  consciousness  of  heavenly 
strength,  which  made  him  ever  earnest,  but  never  anxious ; 
ever  diligent,  but  never  bustling  ;  ever  vigorous,  but  never 
violent."  *  This  spirit  was  the  source  of  the  peace  and  joy 
in  God,  which  he  so  uniformly  tasted. 


*  The  Spiritual  Life,  by  Eev.  F.  Griffith,  pp.  36,  3T. 


412         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

To  Rev,  J.  A.  Jetter, 

"Old  Burdwan,  May  1,  1850. 
"  My  Dear  Bhai  :  I  hear  you  have  become  a  rector.  I 
hope  and  pray  that  in  your  new  sphere  of  labor,  the  Lord 
may  shine  with  the  light  of  His  countenance  upon  you,  and 
give  you  peace,  and  much  comfort,  and  abundant  blessing  in 
your  work.  I  have  just  returned  from  the  bazaar,  where  I 
preached  on  Matthew  7 — the  wise  man  and  the  foolish,  the 
rocky  and  the  sandy  foundation,  the  pelting  storm  and  the 
water  floods.  A  very  good  text  both  for  Hindus  and  Christ- 
ians, and  the  Lord  gave  us  a  commentary  upon  it  last  Satur- 
day. I  have  lived  to  see  many  a  storm  but  none  that  pro- 
duced such  awful  effects  in  our  quarters.  It  commenced 
raining  at  daybreak,  with  a  breeze  springing  up,  but  no  dark 
forebodings  of  a  storm  appeared,  though  M.,  observing  from 
her  class-room  the  gradual  lowering,  came  to  me  repeatedly 
and  expressed  her  fears,  and  the  desirableness  of  securing 
every  thing  we  could.  She  certainly  had  the  spirit  of  prophecy, 
but  I  was  so  engaged  in  my  study,  that  I  did  not  heed  her 
advice,  and  while  we  were  at  dinner  the  wind  gained  strength 
every  moment,  so  we  began  to  be  in  earnest ;  but  it  was  then 
too  late  to  warn  the  Christians  ;  for  by  five  it  became  perfectly 
furious,  and  my  wife,  attempting  to  go  out,  was  thrown  down 
by  the  force  of  the  wind.  We  secured  the  thatched  roof  on 
the  east  side  of  our  house  with  ropes,  and  supplied  the  cate- 
chists  with  some  to  do  the  same,  and  thus  their  dwellings 
were  saved ;  but  the  girls'  school,  which  M.  had  so  nicely 
repaired  during  my  absence,  that  I  might  not  be  teased,  and 
almost  the  whole  Christian  village,  became  as  it  were  a  heap 
of  ruins,  and  Geidt's  house  has  suffered  too.  Toward  six 
the  scene  became  awfully  grand.  The  large  trees  in  the 
avenue  groaned  under  the  blast,  and  the  most  beautiful  one 
was  nearly  destroyed.    Large  arms  of  these,  of  the  size  of  a 


MERCIFUL  PRESERVATION. 


413 


very  respectable  tree,  detached  themselves  in  succession  from 
the  noble  parent  trunk ;  and  we  stood  in  the  verandah  per- 
fectly helpless  and  awe-struck,  beholding  the  desolation. 
At  this  critical  time  the  alarm  of  fire  was  given,  but  it  was 
providentially  extinguished  at  once,  water  being  at  hand. 
The  doors  in  our  own  strong  house  were  forced  open,  and 
the  impotence  of  bolts  and  bars  was  seen.  We  placed  heav}^ 
boxes  against  some,  and  nailed  others  to  the  door-posts. 
It  was  dangerous  to  go  out,  but  it  was  necessary,  as  some  of 
the  high  windows  of  the  church  had  been  forced  and  had  to 
be  secured.  Geidt  and  Bost  were  with  me,  and  one  of  the 
turrets  fell  just  by  us,  but  we  all  escaped  with  a  sprinkling  of 
dust.  As  we  turned  off,  another  came  prostrate  before  us« 
The  vane  shook,  and  we  expected  to  see  the  steeple  give  way  ; 
but  the  Lord  heard  our  prayers  and  staid  the  desolation. 
Our  horses  and  conveyances  could  no  longer  remain  in  the 
stables ;  and  as  the  darkness  came  on,  one  messenger  after 
another  approached  with  doleful  tidings,  but  towards  eight  p.m. 
the  hurricane  began  to  abate,  and  by  eleven  it  had  gradually 
subsided.  We  opened  our  houses  to  the  poor  people,  and 
both  Geidt  and  ourselves  had  numerous  guests.  I  suppose 
we  divided  two  hundred  between  us ;  of  course  they  slept 
on  the  matted  floors.  In  the  morning  the  mission-compound 
presented  a  scene  which  saddened  my  heart  to  the  utmost. 
Sixteen  trees  uprooted,  others  broken  off  in  the  middle,  and 
the  strongest  fearfully  injured.  Still  the  Lord  remembered 
us  in  much  mercy.  Not  one  of  our  people  suffered  bodily 
injury,  though  numbers  were  killed  around  us ;  and  it  is  be- 
lieved that  this  awful  gale  has  purified  the  atmosphere,  and 
removed  the  small-pox  and  fevers  which  have  so  long  been 
raging.  At  divine  service,  we  returned  public  thanks  for 
our  merciful  preservation ;  and  after  my  sermon,  I  appealed 
to  the  benevolence  of  my  hearers  for  help  for  the  poor  suf- 
ferers.   Within  an  hour  or  two  I  had  some  handsome  do 


414         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

nations  in  hand.  One  humble  individual  sent  50  Rs.  I 
must  now  set  to  work  to  repair  damages.  Alas  !  I  have  to 
begin  building  afresh,  but  the  Lord  has  done  it,  and  it  is  for 
us  to  be  still  and  give  Him  glory.  All  looks  as  if  it  had 
been  singed  by  fire.  Mr.  Moore,  a  chaplain  who  was  travel- 
ling up  the  country,  and  had  arranged  to  spend  Sunday  here, 
had  been  exposed  to  this  furious  storm.  He  and  his  wife 
were  blown  into  a  ditch  with  their  carriage,  and  when  they 
took  refuge  under  a  wall  it  immediately  fell.  They  were 
announced  about  noon.  Our  friend  was  compelled  to  pro- 
ceed on  his  journey,  but  his  poor  wife  remained  with  us  for 
some  days,  to  recover  the  effects  of  her  fright  and  exposure ; 
and  then  her  brother,  Mr.  Driberg,  of  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  came  and  took  her  away  to  Cal- 
cutta I  am  busy  putting  some  of  our  beautiful 

German  hymns  into  a  Bengali  dress.  I  can  now  sing  aloud 
with  the  saints,  and  preach  aloud.  My  time  is  very  short. 
Adieu,  my  dear  old  fellow-soldier.    Let  us  keep  by  the 

standard  of  our  Captain  — Your  affectionate,  etc., 

"  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

"I  have  of  late,"  writes  Mr.  W.,  "been  much  engaged 
with  the  translation  of  hymns  and  the  Prayer-book ;  and  I 
have  also  undertaken  to  put  Richmond's  '  Young  Cottager' 
into  a  Bengali  dress.  The  Calcutta  Tract  and  Book  Society 
are  making  earnest  efforts  to  increase  our  Christian  literature 
in  Bengali,  and  have  invited  missionaries  and  other  friends 
to  take  certain  books  in  hand.  Mrs.  Haberlin  is  rendering 
her  valuable  help,  and  other  friends." 

The  following  lines,  written  on  his  birth-day,  to  the  belov- 
ed friend  who  had  charge  of  or^e  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  child- 
ren, manifest  the  same  turning  of  the  needle  towards  the 
point  on  which  his  affections  centred,  which  is  perceived  in 
all  he  wrote : 


LETTER  TO  HIS  SISTER. 


415 


•*  Our  time  is  passing  away,  and  unless  we  take  it  by  the 
forelock,  it  is  sure  to  slip  out  of  our  hands.  I  have  finished 
forty-eight  years  of  my  pilgrimage  to  heaven,  and  am  this 
day  entering  upon  my  forty-ninth.  The  best  of  these  have 
been  spent  in  Bengal,  in  the  service  of  my  blessed  Saviour ; 
and  I  do  not  regret  having  entered  upon  this  service;  for, 
with  all  its  trials  and  wearing  scenes,  it  is  nevertheless  a 
happy  life,  and  T  am  ready  to  stand  at  my  post,  so  long  as 
health  and  strength  permit.  We  are  surrounded  by  mer- 
cies ;  enjoy  comfort  and  peace  in  our  labors  of  love,  and 
here  and  there  a  sweet  token  of  our  Master's  approbation. 

"  We  feel  truly  and  most  warmly  grateful  to  you,  my 
dear  friend,  for  your  kind  and  persevering  care,  and  unweari- 
ed attention  to  our  dear  Emily.  When  the  evening  comes, 
and  the  Householder,  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard,  shall  say 
unto  his  steward,  '  Call  the  laborers,  and  give  them  their 
hire,'  this  your  labor  of  love  will  be  remembered  by  Him  ; 
and  '  forasmuch  as  you  did  it  to  one  of  the  least  of  these 
my  brethren,'  He  will  say  unto  you,  dear  friend,  '  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me.' 

"  May  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  with  you,  my  dearest 
friend  and  sister  !" 

To  his  Sister  in  Germany. 

"  May,  1850. 

-(Translation) — "  We  are  well,  dear  sister,  as  far  as  can  be 
expected  in  this  fearful  heat ;  but  when  evening  comes,  one 
feels  as  if  every  bone  in  the  body  were  about  to  separate 
from  its  fellows.  I  rejoice  amidst  this  trying  languor  in  the 
prospect  of  the  promised  rest ;  a  sweet  one  in  India,  where 
the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day  are  not  a  figure  of  speech, 
but  a  reality.  The  strength  of  my  prime  is  gone,  and  I  feel 
I  am  becoming  an  old  man.  One  grows  older  here  in  twenty 
years,  than  in  Wurtemberg  in  a  much  longer  time ;  but  the 


il6  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

faithful  Lord  will  help  us  through  to  the  end.  We  will  only 
be  careful  to  abide  in  Him,  that  when  He  shall  appear  we 
may  be  like  Him." 

A  pious  member  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  little  flock,  who 
had  been  well  known  to  him  for  several  years,  departed 
during  this  month,  (May.)  He  visited  her  frequently  dur- 
ing her  illness,  and  often  called  in  to  speak  a  word  of  com- 
fort to  her,  as  he  returned  from  preaching  in  the  bazaar. 
"  On  the  13th,"  he  writes,  "  I  was  sent  for,  as  she  appeared 
to  be  dying,  and  I  went  with  M.  immediately.  I  read  and 
prayed  with  her,  and  then  we  sung,  '  There  is  a  land  of  pure 
delight,'  and  '  Guide  me,  Q  thou  great  Jehovah  !'  At  the 
line,  '  Land  me  safe  on  Canaan's  side,'  she  appeared  to  be 
breathing  her  last,  and  I  commended  her  to  the  Lord  on 
whom  she  believed.  She,  however,  revived  a  little  after- 
wards, but  consciousness  did  not  return.  I  buried  her  the 
following  day,  scarcely  a  year  after  she  had  assisted  M.  in 
performing  the  last  offices  of  friendship  and  love  for  good 
Mrs.  B.,  when  she  died  in  our  house.  '  Blessed  are  the  dead 
who  die  in  the  Lord.'  Oh !  that  I  could  feel  as  much  hope 
respecting  all  I  commit  to  the  grave,  as  I  have  of  these  two 
humble  friends  !" 

"  BuRDWAN,  June  22. 
"My  Dear  Mr.  Venn  :  The  report  of  our  Society's  an- 
nual meeting,  which  I  have  read  in  the '  Record'  this  evening, 
has  warmed  my  affections,  and  brought  back  to  my  lively 
recollection  the  scenes  of  bygone  days,  during  our  short  so- 
journ in  England.  My  dear  friend  Dr.  Earth's  speech,  and 
his  allusion  to  the  little  town  of  Schorndorf^  awakened  grate- 
ful feelings  in  my  breast ;  for,  from  the  time  I  left  that  be- 
loved native  place  of  mine,  a  goodly  band  of  missionaries 
has  issued  from  it ;  and  I  feel  persuaded,  that  the  fire  then 
kindled  will  continue  to  burn  brightly  for  years  to  come. 
It  is  very  pleasant  and  encouraging  to  cast  a  retrospective 


CHRISTIANITY  ELEVATES  AND  PURIFIES.  417 


glance,  and  to  meditate  on  all  the  gracious  dealings  of  God 
with  US  in  the  way  He  has  led  us.  Such  a  remembrance 
fills  my  mind  with  hope  that  by  the  same  grace  I  shall  be 
enabled  to  persevere,  faithful  till  the  last  conflict  is  past  and 
the  victory  won.  The  death  of  the  beloved  Bickersteth  has 
called  forth  my  lively  sympathy.  For  several  months  I 
assisted  him,  as  a  young  man,  in  Wheler  Chapel,  and  his 
sweet  Christian  spirit  and  simple  evangelical  preaching  left  an 
indelible  impression  upom  my  youthful  mind.*  Now  I  am 
getting  old  myself,  and  feel  that  the  greatest  portion  of  my 
race  is  run.  My  humble  prayer  is,  that  the  last  portion  of 
earth's  pilgrimage  may  be  the  best,  and  that  my  path  may 
be  indeed  as  the  shining  light,  shining  brighther  and  bright- 
er unto  the  perfect  day.    *    *  * 

"  I  preached,"  writes  Mr.  W.,  "  at  Kunchanagger,  and 
had  a  long  conversation  with  some  tradesmen.  A  Brah- 
mun  from  the  country  asked  me,  if  I  had  a  wife  and  child- 
ren ;  and  when  I  told  him  I  had,  he  said,  '  You  English  can 
do  what  none  of  us  dare  venture  upon.  When  you  visit  a 
friend,  you  walk  with  his  wife  in  the  garden,  or  take  a  drive 
with  her  in  the  carriage,  without  prejudice  to  your  cha- 
racter. Such  a  thing  would  not  be  permitted  with  us  ;  but 
you  have  a  higher  character,  and  a  purer  nature.'  I  replied  : 
'  The  Christian  religion  produces  this  high  tone  of  feeling  ; 
but  heathenism  must  of  necessity  debase  man,  for  the  very 
sight  of  an  idol  pollutes  the  mind.  Men  become  vain  in 
their  imagination,  and  their  foolish  heart  is  darkened  there- 
by.' He  allowed  it ;  but  the  shopkeeper  assured  me,  that 
there  were  holy  men  among  Hindus  too.  'Yes,'  said  I,  'the 
holiness  of  the  ascetic'  " 

About  this  time,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  much  affected  by 
hearing  of  the  death  of  one  of  the  most  pleasing  and  hope- 
ful Hindu  youths  of  his  acquaintance.  He  was  a  pupil,  and 
18* 


418  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

afterwards  a  monitor,  in  the  English  school ;  and  frequently 
attended  the  English  services  in  the  church.  He  was  a 
constant  visitor  at  the  mission-house,  and  was  regularly  sup- 
plied with  useful  books,  and  had  a  well-stored  mind.  "  I 
recollect,"  says  Mr.  W.,  "  observing  him  at  church  last 
Easter-day,  deeply  affected  while  I  was  preaching  on  the 
words,  '  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  V  and  only  a 
few  weeks  since,  he  stated  to  me  his  entire  conviction  of  the 
truth  of  Christianity.  Often  have  I  entreated  him  to  act  up 
to  the  light  he  possessed,  and  seek  his  soul's  welfare  above 
every  thing.  His  parents  were  the  chief  obstacle ;  and  when 
I  last  pleaded  with  him  the  untenableness  of  this  excuse,  he 
left  me  with  a  heavy  heart,  and  I  saw  him  no  more  !  A  low 
fever  seized  upon  his  vitals,  and  his  friends  took  him  home, 
where  he  died  five  days  after  his  arrival.  I  trust  he  was 
enabled,  in  the  hour  of  sickness  and  death,  to  look  to  that 
Eedeemer,  whose  power  to  save  had  again  and  again  been 
commended  to  him.  Our  boys  in  the  school  were  much 
moved  by  this  solemn  event,  for  he  was  loved  and  respect- 
ed by  them  all.  I  spoke  to  several  of  them,  and  earnestly 
entreated  them  to  improve  it  for  their  own  benefit." 

When  one  reads  such  incidents  as  the  above,  the  mind  is 
filled  with  concern,  and  we  can  well  sympathize  with  the  man 
of  God  who  was  so  often  called  upon  to  sow  in  tears ;  but 
no  doubt  can  be  felt,  that  those  who  are  permitted,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  to  carry  on  his  labors  in  the  field  which 
he  so  assiduously  cultivated,  will  reap  in  joy,  and  in  the 
great  day  both  he  that  soweth  and  he  that  reapeth  will  rejoice 
together.  It  was  always  a  delightful  encouragement  to  him 
to  recollect,  that  God  rewards  not  the  successful,  but  the 
faithful  laborer,  and  this  he  preeminently  was. 

During  the  absence  of  his  wife  with  the  little  invalid,  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  received  letters  from  home,  containing  the 
afflicting  news  of  his  eldest  brother's  death.    He  had  been 


HIS  brother's  death. 


419 


much  attached  to  him,  and  had  kept  up  a  regular  and  most 
affectionate  correspondence  with  him  and  all  his  relatives,  so 
that  the  blow  was  a  heavy  one.  He  refers  to  it  in  letters 
to  his  wife,  from  which  extracts  are  subjoined : 

''''Aug.  2. — So  my  dear  brother  Conrad  is  gone;  a  sad 
gap  in  our  family  circle,  so  sweetly  united  before.  I  bow 
in  sorrow  and  deep  humiliation  under  this  stroke,  but  the 
Lord  will  heal  and  raise  up,  I  feel  assured.  What  is  the 
death  of  a  little  child  (referring  to  the  probable  issue  of  Mary's 
illness)  compared  with  the  removal  of  the  father  of  a  nume- 
rous family?  I  was  just  preparing  to  go  to  the  bazaar  to 
preach,  when  I  received  the  sad  news ;  but  now  I  must  stop 
at  home,  and  humble  myself  under  the  mighty  hand  of 
God.  Let  us  earnestly  pray  that  this  sad  breach  may  be 
blessed  and  sanctified  to  my  brothers  and  their  children,  and 
all  who  remain  behind.  What  gives  me  most  concern  is 
the  fear,  that  my  poor  brother  was  perhaps  not  prepared  to 
meet  his  God ;  but  it  is  a  comfort  to  me  that  I  did  sometimes 
write  very  faithfully  to  him.  May  the  Lord  receive  the 
poor  widow  and  children  under  His  own  protection  and 
guidance  !  The  sad  event  will  make  a  void  that  can  not  be 
filled.  One  head  is  gone  to  whom  we  all  looked  up  in  love 
and  respect.  The  news  arrived  just  as  I  had  remembered 
that  it  was  the  anniversary  of  my  farewell  meeting  with  my 
brothers  at  Caunstadt.  I  will  say  with  Hezekiah,  '  I  will  go 
softly  all  my  days ;'  think  more,  and  live  more  for  eternity. 
I  believe  the  Lord  was  preparing  me  for  this  bitter  draught, 
for  I  had  enjoyed  so  much  peace  for  five  days  previously, 
and  such  a  comfortable  assurance  that  all  His  ways  with 
us  are  faithfulness  and  love." 

He  thus  wrote  to  the  bereaved : 

(^Translation.) — "My  Dear  Sister  and  Children:  The 
mournful  news  of  my  poor  brother's  death,  fell  on  me  like  a 
thunder-clap  out  of  the  clear  sky,  and  quite  oyerwhelmed 


420  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

me  with  distress  and  anguish  of  heart.  I  have  passed 
through  many  trials,  but  such  intense  suffering  of  soul  I 
have  never  experienced,  and  it  continues  to  weigh  on  me 
most  heavily.  But  enough ;  I  will  not  reopen  the  wound, 
but  will  rather  try  and  speak  a  word  of  comfort  and  bro- 
therly sympathy  to  your  smitten  spirits.  My  whole  heart 
bled  for  you,  dear  sister,  and  your  children  ;  and  often  have 
I  longed  to  be  able  to  spend  an  hour  with  you,  to  kneel 
down  and  pray  with  you,  and  to  raise  your  crushed  and 
bowed-down  spirits  out  of  the  dust,  by  the  promises  of  God's 
blessed  Word.  In  such  circumstances  as  yours,  there  is  no 
other  help  but  that  which  comes  from  Him.  No  other  re- 
medy but  to  cry  out  of  the  depths.  Lord  have  pity  upon  us  ! 
Read  the  32d  Psalm,  and  find  peace.  One  thing  we  are 
certain  of,  that  in  all  His  dispensations,  the  will  of  God  con- 
cerning us  is  our  true  conversion  to  Himself.  To  mourn 
and  lament  will  not  profit  us  ;  but  to  be  led  to  fly  to  Christ, 
and  cast  ourselves  into  the  sea  of  His  mercy,  the  bosom  of 
His  love,  and  there  find  succor  and  safety,  this  will  bring  us 
peace  and  rest.  We  are  all  poor,  miserable,  wretched. 
When  we  look  within,  we  find  nothing  but  sin  and  misery ; 
but  Jesus  has  promised  to  receive  us,  and  show  us  mercy, 
and  in  union  with  Him  we  may  have  hope  and  confidence. 
Seek  then,  dear  children,  oh !  seek  earnestly,  communion  with 
Him  in  prayer  ;  and  while  you  study  His  Word  with  dili- 
gence, ask  for  the  light  of  His  Spirit,  and  strive  to  follow 
His  exhortations.  Give  no  room  to  the  enemy,  but  pray 
that  the  unbelieving,  carnal  heart  may  be  renewed,  and  a 
heavenly  mind  be  given  you.  Then  you  will  see  the  Sun 
of  Mercy  rising  above,  and  dispelling  the  darkness  of  the 
cloud  that  hangs  over  you  for  a  season.  The  grand  aim  of 
life  is  to  spend  it  for  eternity,  and  thus  to  be  prepared  for 
it.  All  other  matters  that  concern  us,  we  may  safely  leave 
with  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  will  surely  care  for  us,  if 


BAPTISM  OF  TWO  HINDU  YOUTHS. 


421 


we  obey  His  command,  and  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  His  righteousness.  I  pray  that  the  spiritual  blessing  of 
our  father's  house  may  still  remain  with  you;  and  that 
through  the  influence  of  grace,  peaceable  fruits  of  righteous- 
ness may  spring  out  of  this  bitter  affliction.  My  own  dear 
wife  and  children  are  well.  My  little  Mary  is  as  the  apple 
of  my  eye.  I  am  well  and  hale.  How  long  I  may  remain 
here  is  uncertain ;  at  all  events  one  year  more.  There  is 
no  lack  of  work,  nor  lack  of  blessing. — Your  faithful  bro- 
ther and  uncle,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

After  this  severe  loss,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  give  a 
fresh  proof  of  His  loving-kindness  and  remembrance  of  His 
tried  servant,  which  we  will  relate  as  we  find  it  recorded  in 
his  journal : 

"  October  1. — As  I  was  standing  near  the  gate,  at  the  en- 
trance of  our  premises,  two  Hindu  youths  presented  them- 
selves before  me,  requesting  me  to  receive  them  as  prepar- 
andi  for  the  Church  of  Christ.  One  was  a  Brahmun,  the 
other  a  Kashto.  After  some  conversation,  during  which  I 
received  a  pleasing  impression  of  their  sincerity,  I  took 
them  with  me  to  Mr.  Geidt,  begging  him  to  instruct  and 
prepare  them  for  baptism,  as  I  was  about  to  leave  home. 
The  more  we  saw  of  these  lads,  the  better  we  were  pleased 
with  them.  One  of  them  came  from  a  village  near  Chinsu- 
rah,  and  had  received  a  Psalter,  and  afterwards  a  Gospel 
from  a  Baptist  missionary,  who  was  preaching  at  a  heathen 
festival  near  Serampore,  which  he  read  at  home.  He  had 
also  met  with  our  former  catechist  Kali,  who  is  now  station- 
ed in  the  same  neighborhood,  and  by  these  means  he  had  gra- 
dually acquired  some  knowledge  of  Christianity,  which  led 
him  to  the  conclusion  that  Hinduism  was  false.  The  young 
Brahmun  was  a  native  of  Baraset,  and  had  met  with  his 
companion  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit  he  made  to  his  father- 
in-law,  to  see  his  betrothed  wife.  They  conversed  on  Christ- 


422  MEMCIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ianity  together,  and  resolved  to  seek  an  opportunity  for  mak- 
ing an  open  profession  of  it.  With  this  view  they  had 
come  to  Burdwan. 

"19^A. — Yesterday  evening  I  had  a  conversation  with  the 
two  lads,  and  was  very  much  gratified  with  what  fell  from 
their  lips.  I  therefore  encouraged  Mr.  Geidt  to  baptize 
them  at  once,  and  the  ceremony  was  performed  by  him  this 
afternoon  in  our  church,  after  I  had  given  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, and  I  have  since  had  them  an  hour  in  my  study,  speak- 
ing and  praying  with  them.  This  is  a  very  gratifiying  ac- 
cession to  our  little  church ;  for  both  lads,  if  they  go  on  well, 
promise  to  become  useful  in  the  mission,  being  intelligent 
and  well-educated.  The  following  day  the  Brahmun's  father 
met  him  on  the  high  road,  and  when  he  heard  of  his  bap- 
tism, he  expressed  great  sorrow,  and  begged  him  to  accom- 
pany him  home ;  but  when  he  told  him  of  his  desire  to  re- 
main, he  allowed  it.  His  young  friend,  who  was  baptized 
Gershom,  delivered  a  faithful  testimony  for  his  Saviour  on 
this  occasion.  When  he  speaks  of  religion  his  countenance 
brightens,  and  he  appears  to  have  the  true  spirit  of  piety." 

This  incident  exemplifies  how  remarkably  the  mission- 
aries of  diflTerent  religious  sects  and  societies  help  each 
other  in  their  common  work.  A  Baptist  gives  the  young 
man  a  Gospel,  a  catechist  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  helps 
him  to  the  explanation  of  it,  and  another  brother  of  the 
Church  of  England  introduces  him  into  Christ's  fold,  by 
baptism  !  Thus  it  is  in  numerous,  nay,  in  almost  every  in*- 
stance  of  the  conversion  of  a  heathen.  The  Lord  of  the 
vineyard  puts  equal  honor  on  all,  who  labor  faithfully  in 
that  vineyard,  by  whatever  name,  distinctive  or  reproach- 
ful, they  may  be  known  among  men  ;  and  it  is  a  most  grati- 
fying fact,  that,  amid  the  controversial  questions  that  dis- 
turb the  harmony  of  the  Church  at  home,  its  representatives 
in  India  exhibit  a  large  amount  of  practical  union.  They 
cultivate  each  other's  friendship,  travel  together  to  preach 


INDIAN  "evangelical  ALLIANCE."  423 

among  the  heathen,  meet  together  for  mutual  conference 
and  united  prayer,  and  enjoy,  in  many  cases,  personal  in- 
timacy of  the  closest  kind.  Of  the  value  of  such  union  we 
can  scarcely  think  too  highly ;  for  it  hinders  Satan,  whose 
grand  effort  is  to  sow  dissension  among  brethren,  and  exhi- 
bits just  the  picture  one  desires  the  heathen  to  behold,  of 
the  lovely  influence  of  Christianity.  No  one  rejoiced  more 
than  the  subject  of  this  Memoir,  in  what  he  sometimes  call- 
ed, the  practical  '  Evangelical  Alliance'  of  Indian  mission- 
aries. "  His  Christianity,"  "svrites  Mr.  Lacroix,  "  was  of 
that  lofty  and  comprehensive  kind  which  soars  far  above 
mere  forms,  names,  and  denominations  ;  and  led  him  to  re- 
ceive, not  with  empty  professions,  but  to  treat  as  a  brother 
beloved,  every  one  in  whom  he  could  trace  the  image  of  his 
Saviour,  and  in  whom  he  perceived  a  cordial  breathing  after 
perfect  conformity  with  the  Divine  Mind  and  Will.  To 
such  a  one  he  gave  the  hand  of  Christian  fellowship ;  and  the 
mutual  love  of  both  to  Christ,  became  the  bond  of  union  be- 
tween each  other." 

A  letter  of  this  month,  addressed  to  a  young  friend  whom 
he  had  heard  of  as  likely  to  become  a  missionary,  and  who 
desired  his  advice,  may  be  given  in  this  place. 

"  October,  1850. 
"  My  Dear  Young  Friend  :  Although  I  do  not  recollect 
having  seen  you,  yet  I  have  a  lively  recollection  of  several 
very  pleasant  visits  I  made  at  your  dear  parents',  when  I 
met  some  of  your  dear  sisters  likewise.  I  was  much  grati- 
fied to  learn,  from  a  letter  I  lately  received  from  your  mo- 
ther, that  you  have  thoughts  of  devoting  yourself  to  the 
missionary  cause,  should  our  Heavenly  Father  hereafter  open 
a  door  of  entrance  for  you.  Most  happy  shall  I  be,  if,  by 
a  few  words  of  friendly  encouragement  and  affectionate  ad- 
vice, I  can  be  instrumental  in  leading  you  a  few  steps  near 
cr  to  that  gate. 


424         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

"  I  have  been  a  missionary  twenty  years,  and  I  can  assure 
you  it  is  a  blessed  work  to  any  man,  whose  whole  heart  is 
engaged  in  it.  To  spend  one's  life,  and  wear  out  one's 
strength  in  spiritually  benefiting,  and  leading  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth  a  heathen  population,  is  a  work  which 
angels  would  delight  to  be  engaged  in. 

"  If  you  feel,  my  dear  young  friend,  that  you  could  be 
happy  in  such  a  noble  work,  and  if  the  desire  springs  up 
from  the  right  motive,  namely,  from  love  and  gratitude  to 
your  Saviour,  I  would  advise  you  to  cherish  these  thoughts 
in  every  possible  way  ;  and  pray  that  He  who  sent  to  His 
disciples  the  promise  of  the  Father,  may  fit  and  prepare 
you  by  the  same  blessed  agent,  the  napaKXrjrog^  for  the  im- 
portant office ;  for  you  are  doubtless  well  aware  that  the 
spiritual  preparation  is  the  chief  thing  ;  a  heart  moved  and 
sanctified  by  grace  ;  a  spiritual  knowledge  of  Christ ;  living 
in  Him,  and  nourished  by  His  word ;  this  is  the  ground- 
work of  missionary  preparation.  Nothing  would  give 
me  greater  pleasure,  than  to  see  the  son  of  my  esteemed 
and  beloved  friends  joining  me  in  the  mission-field,  as 
a  fellow-laborer.  I  believe  such  a  wish  may,  without 
much  difficulty,  be  realized.  You  might  come  out  in  two 
years,  and  I  will  promise  to  find  a  sphere  of  usefulness 
for  you,  upon  which  you  might  enter  at  once — I  mean  in  the 
educational  branch.  We  have  an  English  school  with  one 
hundred  Hindu  pupils.  In  the  first  classes,  mathematics, 
the  use  of  the  globes,  geography,  and  history  are  taught,  be- 
sides religion.  This  is  a  sphere  of  direct  missionary  labor 
of  a  very  promising  character,  for  our  Hindu  youths  are  not 
only  desirous  of  attaining  every  kind  of  knowledge,  but 
many  of  them  are  favorably  disposed  towards  Christianity. 
In  my  opinion,  it  is  not  absolutely  necessary  that  you  should 
be  ordained  before  leaving  England  ;  for  after  laboring  here 
a  year  or  two,  you  might  be  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  Cal- 


PREPARATION  FOR  MISSIONARY  WORK. 


425 


cutta,  and  during  this  time  you  may  be  attaining  a  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  native  language,  to  enable  you  to  preach 
the  Bengali  afterwards.  If  you  were  to  come  here  you 
might  reside  in  our  house,  and  thus  enjoy  the  advantage  of 
experienced  friends. 

"  Meanwhile  I  would  advise  you  to  store  your  mind  with 
knowledge  of  every  description  within  your  reach.  You 
can  turn  it  to  good  advantage  in  the  missionary  field.  Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew,  are  very  desirable  for  the  preacher  and 
translator.  Astronomy,  chemistry,  mechanics,  and  botany, 
are  very  useful.  A  critical  and  exegetical  knowledge  of 
the  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments ;  a  course  of 
sound  divinity  ;  the  evidences  of  Christianity ;  all  these  are 
excellent  helps.  If  you  can  possibly  hear  a  course  of  lec- 
tures on  anatomy,  materia  medica,  and  practical  medicine, 
do  not  lose  the  opportunity.  This  has  been  of  very  great 
advantage  to  me.  We  have  an  organ  ;  if  you  can  play  an 
instrument  it  will  be  well.  Perhaps  you  could  come  out 
by  the  end  of  next  year  with  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  ;  it 
would  be  a  very  nice  plan,  and  if  one  of  your  sisters  should 
be  disposed  to  accompany  you,  1  think  my  wife  can  find  a 
sphere  of  usefulness  for  her  too,  for  we  want  female  mission- 
aries here  as  much  as  those  of  our  own  sex  

"  But  remember,  if  another  year  of  preparatory  studies 
should  appear  desirable  to  you  and  your  friends,  do  stay  by 
all  means ;  for  when  a  man  is  once  placed  in  a  post  of  use- 
fulness, not  much  can  be  done  in  this  warm  climate  by  pri- 
vate studies ;  though  much,  of  course,  depends  on  the  habits 
and  on  the  energy  of  the  mind. 

"  I  conclude  these  hasty  lines  with  my  best  wishes  and 
earnest  prayers  that  the  Lord  may  direct  and  influence  you 
by  His  good  Spirit,  and  that  wherever  it  may  please  Him  to 
appoint  your  lot  and  inheritance,  you  may  become  a  good 
man  and  an  honored  instrument  for  the  benefit  of  your  fel- 


426         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

low-beings,  a  joy  to  your  dear  parents,  and  an  heir  of  glory 
hereafter. 

"  Give  my  kind  and  Christian  love  to  them  and  your 
sisters,  and  accept  the  same  yourself 

"  Your  sincere  friend,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

On  the  30th,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  proceeded  to  Calcutta  with 
his  family,  a  benevolent  individual  in  the  station  having  con- 
sented to  receive  the  three  little  girls  who  resided  in  the 
house,  during  Mrs.  Weitbrecht's  absence,  should  she  remain 
at  Burdwan.  We  extract  from  his  journal  a  few  deeply  inter- 
esting lines  descriptive  of  a  meeting  he  attended  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  : 

November  1. — I  heard  Mr.  Anderson,  missionary  of  the 
Scotch  Kirk,  deliver  a  very  stirring  address  to  six  hundred 
young  Hindus,  assembled  in  the  Free  Church  Institution. 
This  was  a  beautiful  sight,  a  proof  of  the  progress  of  mission 
work  and  education  in  Calcutta.  Before  the  lecture  com- 
menced, I  was  at  a  loss  to  imagine  how  this  large  number 
of  youths,  who  were  all  chattering  away  together,  could  be 
silenced;  but  no  sooner  did  Mr.  A.  lift  his  arm,  and  call  out 
silence,  than  all  noise  was  hushed  in  an  instant,  and  during 
the  delivery  of  the  lecture  you  might  have  heard  a  pin  drop 
in  the  room,  so  fixed  was  the  attention  given.  Mr.  A.'s 
subject  was,  'How,  or  in  what  disposition,  should  young 
Hindus  proceed,  in  their  inquiries  after  the  true  religion  V 
He  treated  it  in  a  masterly  manner,  and  the  style  of  hia. 
address  was  precisely  suited  for  the  mental  capacity  of  his 
auditors.  I  was  perfectly  delighted,  and  returned  home 
glorifying  and  praising  God,  for  all  the  things  I  had  heard 
and  seen." 

After  many  affectionate  farewells  from  dear  friends,  and 
missionary  brethren  and  their  wives,  the  travellers  embarked 
fsa  the  8th.    Mr.  Weitbrecht  proceeded  with  them  as  far  as 


DYINa  IN  JESUS. 


427 


possible,  and  preached  on  board  the  first  Sunday  of  the  voyage. 
In  the  evening  of'the  same  day  he  had  to  leave  with  the  pilot. 
He  spent  the  intervening  hours  m  earnest  and  affectionate 
counsels  to  his  dear  children,  and  in  prayer  with  them  and 
his  beloved  wife,  to  whom  the  Lord  imparted  all  needful 
support  to  sustain  her  in  the  trying  separation. 

"  As  the  boat  came  round  the  stern  of  the  Hindustan," 
he  writes,  "I  saw  them  at  the  window,  both  the  dear  children 
still  in  tears.  May  a  gracious  God  watch  over  them  and 
protect  them,  when  they  '  are  afar  off  upon  the  sea  !'  " 

A  few  extracts  from  the  first  letters  he  dispatched  to  his 
wife  will  show  the  tone  of  his  mind,  after  this  hard  and  pain- 
ful  trial  was  over.  Some  paragraphs  from  his  journal  are 
incorporated  with  them  : 

"  Nov.  18. — I  felt  very  sad  on  reaching  the  pilot-brig  as  I 
beheld  the  steamer  ploughing  onward,  and  disappearing  at 
last  in  the  horizon.  In  the  night  we  had  a  gale,  which  I  hope 
you  escaped.  At  twelve  o'clock  it  was  reported  that  the 
cable  had  parted ;  this,  however,  was  not  the  case,  but  the 
anchor  drove  considerably.  I  was  very  sea-sick,  and  lay 
twenty-four  hours  in  my  cot,  eating  nothing.  Our  poor 
friend,  Mrs.  Young,  appeared  to  be  dying  in  the  gale,  but 
revived  again,  and  reached  Calcutta  alive.  I  preached  for 
dear  Boswell,  but  had  no  beloved  wife  and  children  to  hear 
me,  as  the  Sunday  before  you  left.  I  met  with  a  Captain  J. 
in  the  steamer  that  took  me  up  after  the  gale  was  over.  He 
was  very  ill,  and  appeared  to  me  to  be  dying,  so  I  went  and 
sat  beside  him.  His  first  question  was,  '  Are  you  a  minis- 
ter 1  I  hope  you  are  a  faithful  servant  of  the  Lord.'  The 
afflicted  man  seemed  a  true  Christian,  and  said  to  me,  '  O 
sir !  I  like  so  much  to  hear  some  one  speak  of  Jesus.  I  know 
what  the  world  is,  and  have  proved  its  hollowness.  True 
heart-religion  is  what  we  want.  I  would  not  accept  the 
office  of  Governor-General  of  India,  in  place  of  the  peace  of 


428  MEMOIR  OP  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

God.'  I  prayed  with  him  in  his  cabin,  and  promised,  at  his 
earnest  request,  to  visit  him  on  shore  if  possible,  but  he  died 
a  few  days  after  landing.  I  saw  the  dear  bishop  passing  out, 
on  his  way  to  Borneo,  in  the  Tavoy  as  we  came  up,  and  I 
am  now  about  to  proceed  to  Chinsurah  with  Merk,  who  is 
going  to  Burdwan  once  more  to  remove  his  things,  and  then 
proceeds  to  his  station.  My  daily  prayers  ascend  to  the 
throne  of  mercy  for  you  and  the  dear  children,  that  the  hand 
of  our  gracious  Father  may  guide  you  in  safety.  Miss^ 
Hebron  writes  that  she  is  'very  busy,  happy,  and  comforta- 
ble.' '  I  attended  Bannerjea's  lecture  on  Vedantism,  last 
Friday ;  Mr.  Bethune  was  present,  and  a  crowded  assembly 
of  native  youths.  Kiss  my  dear  children  for  their  papa,  and 
expect  more  soon." 

In  his  journal  we  find  the  following  entry  :  "  Just  before 
leaving  for  Bancoorah,  I  received  another  letter  from  M., 
announcing  her  safe  arrival  at  Suez ;  and  one  from  Mrs. 
Kruse,  telling  me  that  the  party  had  reached  Cairo  in  good 
health.  Thus  is  my  mind  again  relieved,  and  I  thank  God. 
Mrs.  K.  says  the  children  were  jumping  about,  as  if  no 
fatiguing  journey  through  the  desert  had  been  taken.  The 
great  kindness  shown  by  these  dear  friends  to  my  loved  ones, 
has  touched  me  deeply.  M.  writes  of  it  in  the  most  grate- 
ful terms.  Brother  K.  was  actually  sitting  up  for  them, 
with  tea  and  coffee  ready  on  the  table  at  twelve  at  night, 
and  he  had  placed  a  servant  to  watch  at  the  hotel,  and  bring 
them  to  his  house,  immediately  on  their  arrival.  Surely 
we  do  receive  a  very  large  share  of  brotherly  love  wherever 
we  go !" 


COMMENCES  HIS  LAST  CCWPLETE  YEAR  OF  LABOR.  429 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Tour  vnth.  Mr.  Lacroix — Many  Incidents — Calcutta  Bible  Meeting — 
Colporteurs  to  the  Hindus — Pfander — Second  Tour — English  Preach- 
ing— Desires  to  devote  himself  wholly  to  Itinerating — Baptism  of  his 
Tenth  Child — Easter — Serious  Illness — Anticipations  of  Death — 
Letter  to  a  Missionary  Student — The  Church  Struck  by  Lightning — 
To  a  Friend — Success  of  Missionaries  in  Calcutta — Notice  of  the 
Bhagulpore  Mission — Baptism  of  a  Hindu  Lady — Rajah  of  Burdwan's 
Place  of  Worship. 

1851. 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  thus  begins  his  journal  of  the  last  com- 
plete year  he  was  to  spend  below  : 

"  Jan.  1. — May  the  grace  and  love  of  Jesus  be  with  me, 
and  my  beloved  ones,  now  far  away,  this  New  Year !  I 
have  completed  twenty  years  of  missionary  labor.  How- 
kindly  has  the  Lord  dealt  with  me !  Oh !  that  I  were  bring- 
ing forth  more  fruit  to  His  glory  !  Help  me,  Lord,  during 
the  remaining  years,  few  as  they  may  be,  to  live  more  holi- 
ly,  to  live  more  for  eternity,  and  spend  my  precious  time 
faithfully ;  and  may  my  poor  labors  be  yet  abundantly 
blessed  for  the  conversion  of  many  heathens,  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  Christ's  blessed  kingdom  around  us  !  Preach- 
ed in  English  and  in  Bengali." 

On  the  following  Sunday,  the  5th,  Mr.  Lacroix  preached 
twice  in  Bengali,  and  Mr.  W.  in  English,  from  the  words, 


430  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

"  The  Lord  has  made  bare  His  holy  arm  in  the  sight  of  all 
the  nations." 

A  letter  to  his  absent  wife  will  suitably  commence  the 
history  of  this  year : 

"  My  Beloved  M.  ;  May  our  gracious  God,  whose  we  are, 
and  who  has  loved  us  with  an  everlasting  love,  give  us  a 
blessed  New  Year !  It  is  a  sweet  comfort  to  me,  at  the 
commencement  of  this  new  period,  to  remember  that  we 
have  a  kind  and  gracious  Eather  in  Christ.  His  ways  with 
us  in  times  past,  bear  testimony  to  this.  We  are  a  privi- 
leged family  indeed,  and  can  with  childlike  confidence 
commit  our  future  path  through  life  to  Him.  I  could  ima- 
gine  you  on  Christmas-day,  assembled  with  the  beloved 
children  and  dear  mother  and  friends,  around  the  cheerful 
fire-side,  and  many  a  time  did  the  involuntary  wish  arise,  to 
be  one  of  the  number ;  but  this  may  not  be,  and  the  Lord 
is  dealing  very  kindly  with  me  in  my  solitude,  which  is  often 
attended  with  rich  spiritual  enjoyment.  I  believe  I  have 
given  you  all  the  details  of  our  conference.  Mrs.  Long 
has  told  her  friends,  that  her  happiest  days  in  India  were 
those  spent  at  Burdwan,  and  Mrs.  Lipp  left  with  similar 
feelings.  Our  tour  together  convinced  me  afresh  that 
preaching  to  the  heathen  requires  a  tact  and  power,  which 
only  habit  and  experience  can  give.  Little  Clara  has  come 
home  with  her  nurse ;  Mrs.  Brine  having  left  Burdwan.  It 
has  grieved  me  to  lose  these  good  and  valuable  people,  but 
the  children  will  find  a  kind  friend  in  Miss  Hebron,  who  has 
undertaken  to  care  for  them,  in  the  same  way  that  you  did ; 
and  in  our  house,  as  well  as  in  the  mission,  every  thing  is 
going  on  satisfactorily.  Mr.  Geidt  has  gone  for  a  tour  to 
the  north.    I  had  a  happy  Christmas  at  Bancoorah.  Mrs. 

 is  growing  in  grace.    The  celebration  of  our  Saviour's 

love  in  the  sacrament  was  a  blessed  season." 

On  the  6th,  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  after  setting  his  house  in 


BROTHERLY  UNITY." 


431 


order,  proceeded  on  a  long-projected  tour  \vith  his  brother 
Lacroix.  Most  of  the  incidents  are  detailed  in  letters,  so 
that  we  shall  follow  the  former  plan,  and  incorporate  ex 
tracts  from  his  journal  with  them.  On  the  7th  he  writes : 
After  a  nice  evening's  preaching,  we  had  a  long  conversa- 
tion in  our  tent  on  the  shortness  of  life,  and  that  we  have  the 
greater  portion  of  it  behind  us ;  and  we  discussed  the  de- 
lightful subject  of  what  awaits  us  the  moment  after  death, 
when  consciousness  returns  !    Newton  says, 

'  In  rain  our  fancy  strives  to  paint 
The  moment  after  death ;' 

but  one  may  profitably  meditate  upon  it."  He  much  de- 
lighted in  doing  this,  and  Mr.  Lacroix  observed  after  his 
death :  "  It  was  doubtless  this  familiarity  with  the  eternal 
world,  and  his  constantly  keeping  it  in  view,  which  contri- 
buted to  render  his  own  passage  thither  so  calm  and  easy." 

Part  of  another  letter  contains  a  beautiful  picture  of 
brotherly  unity  : 

"t/ctTi.  14. — I  wi'ite  this  from  a  traveller's  serai,*  forty 
miles  south  of  Burdwan.  We  have  been  out  just  eight 
days,  and  last  evening  were  obliged  to  take  refuge  here  on 
account  of  a  violent  storm,  which  made  it  necessary  to  strike 
our  tent.  Happily  we  did  so  in  time  to  avoid  a  thorough 
soaking,  for  it  poured  down  four  hours  incessantly.  I  can 
not  be  thankful  enough  to  our  gracious  God  for  the  measure 
of  health  I  enjoy.  My  chest  is  quite  strong,  and  I  can 
preach  mornings  and  evenings  without  inconvenience,  and 
every  night  I  feel  comfortable,  and  rest  well.  The  route  on 
which  we  have  been  marching  is  quite  a  new  one,  and  the 
further  we  proceed  to  the  south  the  more  populous  do  we 
find  the  tillages.    The  one  in  which  we  now  are  contains 


*  A  caravanserv,  or  native  inn. 


432  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

two  thousand  cottages  ;  the  one  in  which  we  were  on  Sun- 
day, still  more ;  and  the  people  hear  the  word  of  truth 
with  a  simplicity  and  attention,  which  are  truly  gratifying. 
We  brought  ten  thousand  tracts  and  four  hundred  Gospels 
with  us,  and  we  may  well  say,  '  What  are  they  among  so 
many  V  The  places  we  have  before  us  are,  in  fact,  large 
Hindu  towns,  with  myriads  of  inhabitants.  We  have 
therefore  sent  to  Calcutta  for  a  new  supply  of  Scriptures. 
The  eagerness  for  Gospels  and  single  books  of  the  Bible, 
exceeds  any  thing  we  have  ever  witnessed  before.  I  never 
recollect  a  mission-tour  which  I  have  so  thoroughly  enjoyed ; 
the  society  of  Lacroix  is  a  real  treat.  We  so  fully  under- 
stand each  other,  and  can  enter  so  warmly  into  each  other's 
feelings.  We  talk  pleasantly  over  the  past  in  the  evening, 
and  our  conversation  on  spiritual  subjects  is  most  refresh- 
ing. We  often  read  and  speak  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord, 
and  of  the  signs  of  the  times.  At  our  morning  and  even- 
ing devotions,  we  read  the  Acts,  and  discuss  together  the 
way  in  which  the  apostles  proceeded  in  their  missionary 
work,  and  many  a  blessed  thought  do  we  gather  from  these 
holy  records.  Thus  our  time  passes  very  pleasantly,  yet  I 
miss  you  daily,  and  this  leads  to  much  prayer  for  you  and 
our  dear  ones.  Your  last  from  Suez  made  me  rejoice  and 
praise  God  more  than  I  can  describe. 

February  2.  —  Our  tour  terminated  yesterday,  and  a 
happy  termination  it  has  been.  With  thankful  hearts  and 
uninterrupted  health,  we  went  on  from  day  to  day,  preach- 
ing the  blessed  Gospel.  My  last  was  written  from  a  place 
where  we  were  confined  for  a  day  by  heavy  rain ;  but  the 
weather  since  has  been  delightful ;  some  mornings  very 
cold,  and  a  piercing  wind  all  day  long,  which  tempered  the 
heat  of  the  sun.  A  beautiful  banian,  with  branches  which 
stretched  out  from  sixty  to  seventy  feet  wide  from  the 
parent  stem,  attracted  my  notice,  and  made  me  long  to  en- 


TOUR   WITH  LACROIX. 


433 


camp  under  it :  truly  it  was  a  monarch  among  its  kind. 
One  day  a  Brahmun,  thinking  his  craft  in  danger,  after  I  had 
been  preaching,  said :  '  If  our  religion  be  not  true,  why  does 
Company  Bahadur  (emperor)  patronise  it  1  If  they  do  not 
believe  in  Juggernath,  why  do  they  take  the  pilgrim  tax  1 
And  why  do  the  Sahib  logue  (people)  bow  down,  and  make 
salaam  to  our  idol  V  I  could  not  defend  this,  so  I  turned 
the  conversation  by  reading  and  addressing  the  bystanders. 
This  had  a  good  effect.  The  text,  '  There  is  joy  in  heaven, 
among  the  angels  of  God,  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,' 
seemed  to  delight  them.  We  pitched  our  tent  once  under 
a  fine  pepul-tree  ;  beside  us  was  a  little  mound  with  a  tulsee 
plant  at  the  top,  which  consecrated  the  place,  and  we  were 
no  sooner  settled,  than  a  Brahmun  came  to  protest  against 
our  presence.  He  was,  however,  satisfied  when  we  promis- 
ed not  to  touch  the  plant,  or  kill  a  fowl  for  dinner  near  it. 
We  had  already  eschewed  one  shady  spot,  because  we  observ- 
ed a  number  of  fresh  graves  near  it,  and  Lacroix  told  me,  that 
on  one  occasion,  when  Colonel  Sleeman  pitched  his  tent  in  a 
pleasant  grove,  he  was  shocked  to  be  informed  in  the  morn- 
ing, that  a  number  of  persons,  who  had  been  strangled  by 
Thugs,  lay  buried  just  beneath  him.  On  a  search  being 
made,  fifteen  fresh  corpses  were  dug  out.  It  brought  to  my 
mind  my  attack  of  cholera  at  Durhatta. 

"  The  sight  of  the  river  from  our  position,  ^Yith.  the  rich 
scenery  of  the  opposite  bank,  was  exquisite,  and  we  quite 
enjoyed  it.  We  received  numbers  of  visitors  in  our  tent, 
and  among  others  a  young  man  who  had  often  heard  Lacroix 
preach  in  Calcatta.  He  gave  us  some  description  of  the 
large  places  near.  When  we  crossed  the  river  afterwards, 
a  man  followed  us  over,  (it  was  six  hundred  feet  wide,)  en- 
treating for  a  book.  We  gave  him  three  nice  tracts,  which 
he  well  deserved.  Our  tent  was  in  one  place  in  danger  of 
being  forced  down  by  the  pressure  of  the  crowd,  and  no 
19 


434  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

wonder,  for  I  never  beheld  such  a  densely-peopled  country 
as  we  visited.  On  a  line  of  one  hundred  miles  we  met  with 
thirteen  towns,  each  of  which  contained  more  than  ten  thou- 
sand inhabitants,  and  some  more  than  forty  thousand ;  to  say 
nothing  of  all  the  villages  and  hamlets.  At  seven  of  these 
towns,  no  missionary  had  ever  been  seen  before.  One  town 
had  fifty-three  streets  and  lanes,  and  fifty  bazaars ;  it  was  an 
hour's  walk  through  it.  We  were  surrounded  by  a  thou- 
sand people  in  a  few  minutes,  and  preached  incessantly  for 
three  days,  to  congregations  of  from  five  to  eight  hundred. 
On  one  occasion  I  stood  up  before  a  Kali  temple ;  diabolical 
figures  were  painted  on  the  wall  around  the  horrid  goddess. 
I  first  asked  questions,  and  then  described  her  character  from 
the  Shasters  ;  and  afterwards  the  character  of  Christ,  accord- 
ing to  the  Gospel,  and  His  mission  of  love  and  mercy.  I 
had  about  six  hundred  hearers,  and  felt  as  if  the  power  of 
the  Spirit  were  moving  the  mass  ;  they  were  all  as  silent  as 
a  church  congregation,  and  I  heard  sighs.  It  was  a  delight- 
ful occasion.  I  had  entreated  the  Lord  most  earnestly,  at 
the  beginning  of  my  address,  to  feed  them,  and  give  me  a 
word  to  them  that  might  come  home  with  power  to  their 
hearts,  and  He  heard  me ;  blessed  be  His  name  !  The  in- 
terest of  the  people  never  flagged  though  I  preached  above 
an  hour.  I  went  from  thence,  conducted  by  some  of  my 
congregation,  to  another  place,  and  sat  down  immediately 
before  an  idol  of  Shiva.  Here  Nodiachand  preached  most 
feelingly,  on  the  love  of  God  in  sending  his  Son,  and  I  fol- 
lowed up  with  a  parable.  '  Suppose,'  said  I,  '  a  flood  were 
overwhelming  Bengal,  and  a  benevolent  being,  dwelling  on 
a  mountain,  sent  a  fleet  of  boats  to  rescue  the  drowning  peo- 
ple— suppose  he,  in  his  unwearied  efforts,  even  sacrificed  his 
own  life,  and  yet  the  people  refused  to  escape,  and  sat  upon 
heaps  of  rubbish  till  the  rising  waters  overwhelmed  them, 
would  they  not  deserve  to  be  drowned  V  I  then  applied  my 


AGED  INQUIRERS. 


435 


subject  to  my  audience,  who  were  as  numerous  as  before  ; 
and  it  delighted  me  to  observe  among  them,  some  thirty- 
women  peeping  round  the  corners  of  adjacent  cottages,  and 
listening  with  intense  attention.  It  is  sometimes  very  en- 
couraging to  see  elderly  women  listening  and  nodding  as- 
sent. Surely  the  tenderness  and  susceptibility  of  the  sex 
will,  one  day  or  other,  manifest  itself  in  Bengal  as  it  does 
in  Europe. 

"  Wherever  we  came,  they  seemed  to  know  at  once  who 
we  were,  and  exclaimed,  '  Jesus  Christ's  people  are  come !' 
In  their  eagerness  for  books,  after  hearing  Lacroix,  they 
nearly  wrenched  off  the  lock  from  his  palanquin.  I  told 
them  that  if  I  had  not  myself  experienced  the  healing  power 
of  Christ,  I  should  never  have  come  to  their  distant  village 
to  tell  them  about  Him. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  multitude  of  people  as  at  Chunder- 
coah,  except  at  the  shradha  of  the  Ranee  of  Burdwan.  It 
was  impossible  to  be  heard  by  all  who  stood  around,  and 
we  invited  them  to  come  to  our  tent,  which  they  did  in 
parties.  We  were  in  a  mango  grove  near  the  old  fort,  and 
the  scenery  was  extremely  pretty  ;  from  the  top  of  the  bas- 
tions, the  view  of  the  jungles  was  lovely  in  the  extreme. 
We  were  working  hard  from  morning  till  evening,  distribut 
ing  and  addressing  the  crowds  who  came  to  us.  The  fol- 
lowing morning,  as  we  were  sitting  at  breakfast,  an  old 
Guroo  came  to  visit  us,  and  brought  some  of  his  disciples. 
He  related  to  us  the  particulars  of  a  conversation  he  had 
had,  some  years  before,  with  a  missionary  in  Calcutta,  and 
Lacroix  repeated  to  him  one  of  his  replies.  '  Oh  !'  said  the 
old  man,  '  it  was  yourself,  Sahib.'  He  told  us  that  Ram- 
mohun  Roy  was  one  of  his  friends,  and  also  Dr.  Carey,  and 
that  he  considered  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  as  the  most 
sublime  piece  of  morality  in  the  world. 

"  On  preaching  again  near  a  Kali  temple,  I  observed  an  old 


436  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

man  with  an  honest,  pleasing  countenance.  After  my  ad- 
dress he  said :  '  You,  sir,  have  pointed  to  the  right  place,' 
(alluding  to  my  lifting  up  my  hands  to  heaven ;)  '  there  is 
the  true  God,  but  we  know  Him  not,  and  there  is  no  body 
who  can  show  us  the  right  way.'  I  felt  deeply  for  this  poor 
old  man,  and  said  a  short  prayer,  directing  him  to  repeat  it 
after  me,  which  he  did  twice,  and  promised  to  offer  it  daily, 
'  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me  as  a  poor  sinner,  and  show  me 
the  way  of  salvation  by  the  help  of  thy  good  Spirit.'  '  Give 
me  a  book,  please,  sir,'  he  added  ;  '  my  sons  can  read  it  to 
me.  I  want  to  know  more  of  this  incarnation  of  divine 
mercy.'  He  followed  me  to  the  tent,  and  I  gave  him  the 
Gospels  of  Matthew  and  John. 

"  I  saw,  as  I  was  going  along,  a  poor  man  who  appeared 
dying  of  cholera  under  a  tree,  and  administered  medicine 
to  him,  but  no  pulse  could  be  felt.  Thus  perish  the  wretch- 
ed pilgrims  to  Gunga  Sagor,  on  the  roadside,  without  any  to 
show  them  mercy !  I  saw  the  tree  under  which  I  had  my- 
self been  attacked  four  years  before.  It  was  a  sad  yet 
grateful  remembrance.  Yet  here  I  am  still,  the  living  among 
the  dead  ;  a  monument  of  mercy !  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my 
soul !" 

During  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  short  stay  in  Calcutta  he  spoke 
at  the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Bible  Society ;  and  his 
heart  being  warmed  by  his  encouraging  tour,  his  speech 
communicated  a  genial  glow  to  his  hearers,  several  of  whom 
greeted  him  after  the  meeting  with  much  affection.  He 
proposed  in  his  speech,  the  employment  of  colporteurs,  to 
go  out  somewhat  on  the  plan  of  those  in  Europe,  to  distri- 
bute parts  of  Scriptures  to  people  who  could  read,  and  to 
speak  a  few  words  to  the  natives  whom  they  met  on  their 
way.  He  had  long  been  of  opinion,  that  such  a  plan,  care- 
fully and  judiciously  carried  out,  would  be  productive  of 
much  good  in  India,  and  pave  the  way  for,  and  aid  the 


HEALTH  IN  A  TROPICAL  CLIMATE. 


437 


preaching  missionary.  The  chief  obstacle  to  its  accomplish- 
ment is  the  lack  of  suitable  individuals.  Pious,  devoted 
East-Indians  would  do,  but  these  are  rarcB  aves.  When 
once  native  helpers  become  more  numerous,  and  a  body  of 
such  can  be  set  apart  for  the  purpose,  much  benefit  may  be 
anticipated.  It  would,  perhaps,  scarcely  be  possible  to  em- 
ploy Europeans  to  any  extent,  in  a  work  of  the  kind,  in  a 
tropical  climate,  though  many  a  one  is  found  superintending 
the  erection  of  the  railway  embankments  and  keeping  abroad 
till  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  daily,  even  in  the  hot  weather,  and 
in  most  instances  without  injury  to  the  health.  One  reason 
for  this  may  be,  that  they  are  deeply  interested  in  their 
employment,  and  kept  up  by  the  prospect  of  the  temporal 
benefit  they  derive  from  it ;  and  another,  that  their  mental 
powers  are  not  too  heavily  taxed,  at  the  same  time  as  their 
physical.  There  can  be  no  question,  that  free  exercise  in 
the  open  air,  and  a  due  measure  of  bodily  exertion,  is,  if 
any  thing,  conducive  to  health,  even  in  a  very  hot  climate, 
if  proper  precautions  are  used,  and  sufficient  rest  and 
nourishment  enjoyed  to  reinvigorate  the  frame.  It  is  an 
interesting  question,  which  the  present  employment  of  so 
many  Europeans  in  railway  erections  may  help  to  solve — 
How  far  the  European  constitution,  under  such  circum- 
stances, may  be  inured  to  bear  the  sun  of  a  tropical  cli- 
mate ? 

With  respect  to  missionaries,  the  question  bears  a  some- 
what different  aspect.  They  must  be  men  of  study  and 
mental  energy,  to  be  efficient ;  and  their  intellectual  powers 
must  be  as  much  in  exercise  as  their  physical,  when  out  on 
tours,  which  produces  a  far  more  exhausting  effect  on  the 
frame  than  the  employment  of  the  mere  animal.  They 
must  also  be  exerting  the  voice  to  a  high  degree,  which  helps 
to  tire  the  whole  system  more  than  other  exercise. 

Still,  it  was  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  and  one  which 


438         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WIETCHBRECHT. 


strengthened  with  his  years,  that  missionaries  would  not 
suffer  more  in  health,  but  perhaps  less,  if  they  accustomed 
themselves  to  much  more  travelling  and  itinerant  preaching 
than  they  do,  when  engaged  in  quiet  or  sedentary  occupa- 
tions. He  always  made  it  a  practice  to  walk  much  on  his 
tours ;  and  both  Mr.  Lacroix  and  himself  ascribed  to  this 
cause,  a  good  deal  of  the  health  they  usually  enjoyed  on 
these  occasions.* 

*  The  following  remarks  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht  are  so  valuable,  that  no 
apology  is  necessary  for  introducing  them ;  and  this  appears  to  be  the 
place  to  which  they  most  appropriately  belong  : 

"hints  to  missionaeies  in  itineeating. 

"  Health  and  its  preservation  being  a  paramount  duty,  I  would  sug- 
gest some  hints  as  the  result  of  long  experience. 

"  a.  If  on  horseback,  or  in  palanquin,  or  per  pedes,  do  not  make  your 
trip  a  long  one  on  the  days  you  wish  to  preach.  When  you  and  your 
people  are  tired  and  weary  at  the  journey's  end,  no  mental  effort  hke 
preaching  can  be  carried  on  with  effect  and  satisfaction.  In  Bengal, 
a  large  village  is  met  with  wherever  you  go,  at  distances  of  five  or  six 
miles  at  the  utmost :  I  have  found  it  desirable  not  to  exceed  this  extent 
of  travelling. 

"6.  If  you  break  ground  and  proceed  early,  which  is  in  every  way 
desirable,  walk  a  few  miles :  nothing  can  be  more  bracing  and  conduc- 
ive to  health  than  this  early  exercise.  It  frequently  happens  that, 
after  walking  a  few  miles,  I  pass  through  a  village,  and  stop  for  half 
an  hour  at  some  convenient  spot,  under  a  tree.  People  come  and  put 
questions.  I  ask  them  about  their  circumstances,  or  take  notice  of 
their  children.  Meanwhile  I  get  out  my  tracts  from  my  palanquin. 
The  people,  learning  that  I  am  a  padre,  are  prepared  to  hear  some- 
thing about  Jesus  Christ.  To  make  the  best  of  these  opportunities,  I 
always  take  one  native  preacher  with  me,  who  follows  me  in  addressing 
them. 

"  c.  In  the  earlier  years  of  my  missionary  peregrinations,  I  thought 
little  of  making  myself  comfortable  and  at  home  while  under  canvas. 
I  was  fully  prepared  to  come  home  weary  and  almost  worn  out.  But 
this  is  a  mistake.  And  as  it  is  cheap  to  be  comfortable,  and  more  con- 
ducive to  health,  than  when  you  allow  yourself  to  suffer  want  and 


DESIRES  TO  ITINERATE  ENTIRELY. 


439 


To  a  friend  who  had  written  to  cheer  him  in  his  solitude, 
and  to  entreat  him  to  care  for  his  health,  he  returned  a 
most  lively  reply.  We  only  extract  the  following  parar 
graphs : 

"By  daybreak  we  make  a  cup  of  coffee,  take  down  the 
little  tent,  and  walk  off,  stick  in  hand,  five,  six,  or  ten  miles, 
to  the  next  village  or  town.  Sitting  under  a  tree,  we  wait 
till  the  bullock-carts,  with  tent,  books,  and  stores  arrive. 
Meanwhile,  we  are  generally  surrounded  with  people, 
who  inquire  who  we  are,  what  is  our  business :  this  leads 
to  a  conversation,  which,  after  some  preliminaries,  is  directed 
into  a  religious  channel.  When  the  tent  is  up  the  dinner  is 
prepared,  which  consists  of  any  thing  of  the  animal  world 
we  can  get,  with  potatoes,  or  rice  and  curry.  Not  every 
missionary  is  fit  for  this  arduous  branch  of  labor ;  it  is  a 
rough  and  self  denying  kind  of  life,  and  requires  active  habits, 
a  cheerful  mind,  and  a  ready  utterance,  with  a  perfect  know- 
ledge of  Bengali  and  the  habits  of  the  people.  The  Lord 
has  given  me  a  little  share  of  these  gifts,  and  I  desire  to 
occupy  till  He  come." 

The  impression  left  on  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  mind  from  his 
January  tour  deepened  more  and  more,  and  the  result  was 
a  letter  to  the  Society,  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 
In  Avriting  to  his  wife  about  it,  he  remarks,  with  his  charac- 

self-denial,  I  now  do  better  in  this  respect,  and  find  the  beneficial  ef- 
fects. Thus,  after  arriving  in  camp,  I  have  my  little  breakfast  of  bread 
and  tea  at  once ;  for  -while  the  tent  is  put  up,  my  servant  makes  hot 
water,  and  generally  both  are  ready  about  the  same  time.  After  this 
little  repast,  I  shut  my  tent,  and  have  a  bath.  Then  I  take  my 
New  Testament,  and  refresh  my  soul  in  communing  with  my  Savi- 
our. 

"  d.  Do  not  allow  the  natives  to  crowd  around  your  tent  all  day. 
After  speaking  with  them,  while  you  have  your  meals,  etc.,  they  are 
easily  persuaded  to  withdraw,  when  promised  that  they  may  come  again 
at  an  appointed  hour." 


440  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN   JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


teristic  earnestness,  "  I  am  sure  you  will  see  with  me  the 
desirableness  of  this  plan,  and  will  agree  in  the  details.  All 
is  easily  practicable  if  one  have  nothing  else  to  do  ;  and  that 
the  Gospel  should  and  must  be  more  extensively  preached 
than  it  has  been,  who  does  not  feel  that  knows  the  real  state 
of  things  ?  You  know  how  often  we  have  spoken  together 
about  the  feasibility  of  a  fuller  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and 
you  once  urged  me  to  try  and  form  a  plan  for  visiting  every 
town  and  village  in  the  Burdwan  district,  which  our  old 
friend  Haberlin,  with  his  keen  eye,  thought  quite  possible.* 
The  only  grave  consideration  in  the  plan  is,  I  shall  be  from 
home  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  and  this  will  imply  the 
trial  of  frequent  separation  from  you,  but  how  continually 
has  this  been  the  case  in  time  past !  For  the  Lord's  sake 
it  can  be  done  still  more.  When  duty  is  clear,  you  will  be 
as  ready  as  I,  to  sacrifice  your  own  will  to  God's.  Besides, 
such  an  arrangement  does  not  contemplate  my  being  always 
out.  Eest  and  refreshment  are  needed ;  breathing-time 
must  be  enjoyed,  and  then  sometimes  you  can  accompany 
me.  It  would  not  interfere  with  your  care  of  your  schools. 
I  would  establish  small  Bible  depots  at  different  places,  and 
engage  friends  to  help  in  distributing  them." 

The  above  extract  will  manifest  to  the  reader,  that  all  the 
excellent  gifts  bestowed  upon  this  favored  servant  of  his 
Lord  seemed,  to  the  eye  of  man,  ripening  for  more  extended 
influence  and  usefulness  on  earth,  but  they  were  ripening  for 
glory.  His  views  had  now  attained  an  extraordinary  degree 
of  elevation  and  brightness ;  and  his  faith  prevailed  in  so  won- 
derful a  manner,  that  he  saw  no  difficulties ;  and  while  others 
were  wondering  at  his  rapidly-increasing  spirit  of  devoted- 
ness,  he  seemed  unconscious  of  it.  He  spoke  most  raptur- 
ously, at  times,  of  the  blessed  period  which  was  hastening  on 

*  The  first  allusion  to  this  subject  is  contained  in  a  paragraph  that 
will  be  found  at  page  170. 


THE  CHURCH  EXHORTED. 


441 


when  India's  myriads  would  bow  down  before  the  Lord,  and 
her  people  be  made  willing  in  the  day  of  His  power.  Like 
one  of  old,  he  longed  to  see  that  day,  and  by  faith  he  saw  it 
and  was  glad.  "  It  was  the  conversion  of  the  Hindus,"  writes 
Mr.  Lacroix,  "  that  chiefly  occupied  his  thoughts,  and  con- 
stituted the  most  intense  desire  of  his  heart.  He  was  never 
wearied  in  devising  and  carrying  out  plans,  which  had  that 
object  in  view.  The  conversion  of  the  heathen  was  ever  the 
principal  subject  of  his  conversation,  on  his  visits  to  me." 

After  the  perusal  of  the  stirring  letter  in  the  Appendix, 
which  was  printed  and  widely  circulated,  at  the  time  it  was 
received,  by  the  Committee  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
one  may  well  venture  to  inquire,  in  the  words  of  the  friend 
who  first  put  the  query,  "  Who  will  follow  in  the  Saviour's 
train,  to  fill  the  blank  that  has  been  made  ?  Who  will  be 
baptized  for  the  departed  missionary,  and  enter  into  conflict 
hand  in  hand,  as  he  did  with  the  giant  enemy,  the  strong 
man  armed,  whose  throne  is  amidst  the  hateful  idolatries  of 
Bengal  ?" 

When  men  fall  in  a  position  of  interest,  as  those  officei's 
who  perish  in  war,  (many  touching  instances  will  occur  to 
the  reader,)  such  events  aflect  the  finest  sensibilities  of  our 
nature,  and  arouse  the  warmest  feelings  of  sympathy  of  which 
the  human  heart  is  susceptible.  If  it  be  so,  in  that  which  re- 
lates to  the  glories  of  this  world  only,  and  to  merely  earthly 
honors,  how  much  closer  the  application,  when  the  glory  of 
God,  the  extension  of  His  kingdom,  victories  for  His  name 
and  honor  are  concerned !  There  is  never  any  lack  of  aspir- 
ants after  earthly  aggrandisements ;  hundreds  may  be  cut  ofl", 
as  has  been  the  case  of  late  years  in  the  battles  of  the  Sutlej,but 
there  were  plenty  stepping  in  to  fill  up  the  broken  ranks,  and 
to  be  baptized  for  the  dead.  Is  it  to  our  credit,  as  soldiers 
of  the  cross,  that  it  should  be  otherwise  when  a  standard- 
bearer  fainteth  among  us  ?  Suppose  every  pious  family,  con- 
19* 


442  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


sisting  of  several  sons  and  daughters,  could  be  led  to  see  it 
a  duty  to  devote  one  of  their  number  to  the  service  of  Christ 
among  the  heathen,  what  a  glorious  missionary  phalanx 
would  soon  be  provided  for  India,  and  how  thoroughly  would 
the  locality  referred  to  in  the  letter,  be  permeated  by  the  feet 
of  those  who  bring  glad  tidings  of  good  !  It  is  true,  that  it 
is  men  of  experience  who  are  wanted  :  but  that,  experiment 
and  practice  alone  can  give.  How  many  families  there  are  in 
happy  Englaitd,  pious  families,  who  would  not  hesitate  to 
make  the  sacrifice  for  a  much  inferior  motive,  yet  who  shrink 
at  once  when  missionary  service  is  named !  Let  the  reader 
take  pains  to  obtain  accurate  information,  and  he  will  find, 
that  even  in  regard  to  the  present  life,  there  is  nothing  so 
frightful  in  the  contemplation  of  the  employment.  By  care 
and  watchfulness,  by  airy  houses  and  light  dress,  and  avoiding 
unnecessary  exposure,  missionary  life  may,  under  many  dis- 
advantages, be  long  preserved.  The  climate  tries  them  greatly, 
as  it  does  all  Europeans.  The  scorching  days  and  sleep- 
less nights  encourage  peculiar  and  deadly  diseases ;  the  mental 
anxiety,  the  round  of  pressing  labor  which  allows  no  Sabbath 
rest,  tell  most  on  missionary  strength;  but  so  it  is  with  the  de- 
voted minister  at  home  also.  Yet  even  with  these  disadvanta- 
ges, their  general  health  has  decidedly  improved.  The  number 
of  missionaries  who  die  or  remove  annually  from  India,  is 
not  so  large  in  proportion  as  it  used  to  be.  The  average 
duration  of  missionary  life  and  labor  now  amounts  to  nearly 
seventeen  years,  and  is  decidedly  on  the  increase.  Several 
living  missionaries  have  been  in  India  more  than  thirty 
years.*  And  then  it  is  an  honorable  service,  for  in  India 
the  highest  scholarship  and  the  deepest  piety  will  find  ample 
scope  for  all  that  they  can  accomplish.  To  mould  the  mind 
of  a  mighty  nation,  and  stamp  it  with  a  high  order  of  excel 

*  Results  of  Missionary  Labor  in  India,  by  Rev.  J.  Mullens,  London 
Missionary  Society,  a  pamphlet  well  worthy  of  attentive  perusal. 


GOOD  NEWS  FROM  HOME. 


443 


lence,  is  surely  a  grand  enterprise,  not  to  be  lightly  rejected 
either  by  fathers  or  sons,  even  by  those  who  have  good  pros- 
pects in  their  own  country. 

During  April,  the  weather  being  intensely  hot,  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht  was  chiefly  at  home,  employed  in  translations,  bazaar 
preaching,  and  attendance  at  the  English  school,  to  which, 
when  at  Burdwan,  he  gave  three  hours  daily.  His  journal 
records  some  cipcumstances  through  which  he  passed  at  this 
time,  which  caused  him  much  suffering,  for  though  he  was 
so  beloved  and  esteemed,  he  did  not  escape  the  reproach 
which  all  Christ's  faithful  servants  must  be  content  to  suffer 
from  time  to  time.  It  "\vas  Himself  who  said,  "  It  must  be 
that  offenses  come,"  and  all  His  followers  prove  the  truth  of 
the  remark.  It  was  no  doubt  most  wisely  ordered  with 
respect  to  an  individual,  who  enjoyed  so  much  favor  with  his 
fellow-men,  that  cutting  trials  should  sometimes  visit  him  ; 
and  he  learned  from  them  the  blessed  lessons  they  are  sent 
to  teach — humility  of  spirit  before  God,  and  the  verification 
of  His  own  faithfulness  and  unchangeableness  ;  for  while  the 
kindest  human  friend  may  be  for  a  season  estranged,  none 
ever  experienced  any  change  in  Him  : 

"They  who  once  His  kindness  prove, 
Find  it  everlasting  love." 

At  the  same  time,  he  was  rejoiced  by  good  news  from 
home,  "  which,"  he  writes,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  "has  been 
a  sweet  solace  to  me.  The  birth  of  my  dear  babe  and  his 
baptism,  was  as  balm  to  my  spirit.  To  God-fearing  parents 
the  baptism  of  a  child  is  a  heavenly  feast,  because  He  hears 
prayer  and  gives  the  blessing  we  ask  for.  May  our  dear 
little  Herbert  grow  into  the  likeness  of  Jesus,  and  be  bap- 
tized by  His  Spirit ! 

"  The  horrible  swinging  festival  has  just  come  to  an  end  ; 
it  makes  me  sad  to  see  these  wretched  people  so  maddened 


444  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

in  their  diabolical  feasts ;  but  I  feel  a  greater  desire  rtian 
ever  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus'  love  to  them.  I  have 
had  such  a  congregation  this  morning,  and  such  deep  atten- 
tion, when  I  spoke  of  the  ten  lepers  and  the  leprosy  of  the 
heart,  and  of  the  healing  power  of  J esus.  I  have  been  read- 
ing your  favorite  Cecil,  and  Adams'  Private  Thoughts,  and 
want  you  to  bring  me  Owen  on  the  Spirit.  It  is  a  book  I 
long  to  read.  The  house  is  very  lonely,  but  it  will  not 
always  be  so.  I  heard  a  little  voice  singing  in  a  side-room 
last  evening,  which  reminded  me  of  dear  Mary,  and  brought 
tears  into  my  eyes.  This  kind  of  epistolary  correspondence 
is  very  delightful,  and  serves  as  some  indemnity  for  our 

separation  I  write  this  on  my  birth-day ;  and 

well  may  I  lift  up  my  heart  in  gratitude  to  the  Father  of 
mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  comfort,  who  has  so  graciously 
directed  me  on  my  path,  forgiven  all  my  iniquities,  and  is 
still  crowning  me  vtdth  loving-kindness.  The  Lord  gives  me 
a  sweet  sense  of  His  presence.  Passion-week  and  Easter- 
day  were  a  truly  blessed  season  to  my  soul.  I  received  an 
enlarged  view  of  the  glory  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  of  His 
resurrection  power ;  and  the  Spirit  assisted  me  to  glorify 
Him  before  the  congregation,  who  were  very  devout  and 
attentive.  I  felt  a  heavenly  joy  while  preparing  my  sermon 
on  1st  Corinthians  15 :  20,  and  my  heart  was  raised  up  into 
heavenly  places.  I  have  indeed  profited  much  spiritually  in 
my  solitude." 

The  sermon  to  which  reference  has  been  made  in  the  above 
extract  was  a  very  striking  one,  and  its  concluding  paragraph 
reminds  one  in  a  lively  manner,  of  the  way  in  which  Mr. 
Weitbrecht  himself,  a  few  months  later,  and  before  another 
Easter-day  came  round,  bid  adieu  to  terrestrial  things. 

We  annex  it:  "Truly,  brethren,  standing  as  we  do  in 
spirit  this  morning,  at  the  open  sepulchre  of  the  living 
Redeemer,  we  can  view  death  in  a  very  different  aspect 


DEATH  ROBBED  OF  ITS  TERRORS. 


445 


from  the  heathen  and  the  world  around  us.  It  is  but  a 
little  while,  and  we  shall  see,  with  our  own  eyes,  what  we 
now  believe  and  hope  for. 

"  Let  us  make  our  calculations  and  our  preparations  accord- 
ingly ;  even  as  the  apostle  did,  when  he  said :  '  I  reckon, 
that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time,  are  not  worthy  to 
be  compared  with  the  glory,  which  will  be  revealed  in  us.' 

"  Here  we  suffer,  we  fear,  we  groan,  we  weep  ;  and  often 
we  creep  along  as  on  a  thorny  path ;  but  what  are  all  these 
trials  when  Jesus  is  near !  What  are  they  when  He  imparts 
sanctifying  grace !  What  are  they  in  the  most  painful 
instances,  but  so  many  blessings  in  disguise !  When  we 
attend  the  dying  bed  of  a  true  believer,  what  is  death  in 
such  a  case !  Have  you  never  witnessed  it !  Why,  it  is 
spoiled  of  all  its  terrors — a  truly  delightful,  heavenly  scene, 
because  the  bright  rays  of  Jesus'  resurrection-life  illumine 
the  chamber  of  death  j  because  ministering  spirits,  who 
whisper  peace  and  hope  to  the  departing  soul,  are  present. 
Such  a  one,  who  worshipped  with  us  last  year  in  this  place, 
and  who  has  lately  been  called  to  his  reward,  experienced 
this ;  and  another  dear  friend  of  mine,  a  few  minutes  before 
he  breathed  his  last,  said,  '  Now,  glory  is  breaking  in  upon 
my  soul.' 

"  Is  not  such  a  death-bed  a  speaking  proof  of  the  power, 
the  life,  the  truth  of  Christ  ?  when  we  hear  the  departing 
believing  friend,  in  the  solemn  moment,  when  his  heart  and 
strength  do  fail,  giving  expression  to  his  firm,  unshaken 
hope  in  Christ.  This  hope  is  indeed  a  sure  and  steadfast 
path  and  plank,  to  convey  him  across  the  dread  vale  of  death. 

'  0  glorions  hour !  0  blest  abode ! 
I  shall  be  near  and  like  my  God ; 
And  flesh  and  sin  no  more  control 
The  sacred  pleasures  of  my  souL 


446  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBREOHT. 


'  My  flesh  shall  slumber  in  the  ground 
Till  the  last  trumpet's  joyful  sound  ; 
Then  burst  the  tomb  with  sweet  surprise, 
And  in  my  Saviour's  image  rise.'  " 

Among  other  mercies  that  Mr.  Weitbrecht  rejoiced  in 
during  this  year,  was  that  of  the  presence  of  a  truly  pious 
and  excellent  family  at  Burdwan,  whom  he  highly  esteemed. 
"It  is  a  great  joy,"  writes  he,  "to  see  such  people  coming  to 
a  station ;  there  is  a  sweet  Christian  spirit  about  them,  and 
I  always  profit  by  an  evening  spent  with  them."  The  feel- 
ing was  mutual,  and  the  following  affectionate  record  of  their 
esteem  for  him  will  be  a  suitable  comment  on  the  few  pages 
preceding : 

"  Our  intercourse,"  writes  the  Honorable  Mr.  D.,  "  was 
frequent,  though  often  interrupted  by  his  missionary  tours, 
and  the  effect  of  the  dreadful  heat  of  that  season  on  one 
whose  active  mind  gave  but  little  rest  to  his  body.  Beyond 
the  good  report  of  all,  I  had  enjoyed  no  previous  acquaintance 
with  him ;  but  was  early  struck  with  the  refinement  of  his 
mind,  and  the  remarkable  Christian  simplicity  of  his  charac- 
ter. He  was  possessed  of  that  rare  quality,  of  which  the 
counterfeit  is  called  tact,  but  which,  in  him,  was  the  spirit  of 
love  shed  abroad  in  his  heart,  tinging  all  he  said  and  did ;  and 
which,  combined  with  his  sound  mind,  gave  him  a  vast  influ- 
ence amongst  all  classes  of  society.  His  increasing  humility 
was  observed  by  many  ;  and  I  had  several  opportunities  of 
seeing  him  under  circumstances  of  trial,  in  which  his  meek- 
ness and  patience  were  sorely  put  to  the  test,  but  as  strongly 
exemplified  by  the  course  he  pursued.  I  have  seldom  wit- 
nessed a  brighter  example  of  Christian  character ;  or  one 
more  eminently  fitted,  by  his  wisdom,  patience,  and  love, 
for  those  missionary  labors,  from  which  we  should  feel 
tempted  to  think  he  was  too  early  removed,  did  we  not 
know  that  He,  by  whose  reflected  light  he  shone,  is  able  to 


HIS  INCREASING  HUMILITY. 


447 


raise  up  many  such  instruments  for  His  own  service.  His 
sermons  were  the  reflex  of  his  character,  and  his  ministry- 
was  regarded  as  our  chief  privilege  at  Burdwan  ;  his  affec- 
tionate exhortations  came  home  to  the  heart  powerfully, 
because  they  proceeded  from  the  heart;  and  not  only  myself 
but  several  others,  were  particularly  struck  with  the  beauti- 
ful and  gradually  increasing  radiation  of  his  countenance  as 
he  addressed  us,  which  strongly  impressed  me  with  the  idea, 
that  the  time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand." 

The  journal  of  this  month  (May)  refers  to  an  attack  of 
illness,  which  came  on  after  great  exertions  in  preaching. 
It  resembled  one  of  those  serious  monitors,  of  which  he  had 
previously  had  so  many,  and  it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that 
it  arose  from  the  effect  of  the  intense  heat,  which  was  far 
more  than  usally  severe  this  season.  On  his  birth-day  he 
was  much  indisposed,  but  wrote  to  his  absent  wife  and  per- 
formed other  duties,  "  though,"  as  he  says,  "  I  was  exceed- 
ingly low  and  faint  when  I  had  done."  He  seemed  quite 
overcome,  at  the  same  time,  with  a  sense  of  his  privileges  as 
a  Christian,  and  exclaims :  "  This  has  been  my  forty-ninth 
birth-day ;  God's  name  be  praised !  How  much  have  I  been 
blessed,  how  highly  favored,  by  my  dear  Saviour !  I  know 
Him  !  I  also  love  Him,  though  too  feebly ;  but  I  desire 
none  but  Him,  and  in  this  choice  I  am  as  sure  as  I  am  of  my 
own  existence.  Therefore  I  know  I  shall  be  safe,  notwith- 
standing my  sinfulness  and  unfaithfulness  to  Him.  I  was  in 
tears  all  this  morning ;  tears  of  shame  and  gratitude  shed 
before  Him  !  He  knows  them!  'Thou  gatherest  my  tears 
into  thy  bottle.'  "  "  On  the  30th,"  he  adds,  '4  felt  as  if  I 
had  cholera,  and  sent  for  the  native  doctor.  I  then  made  all 
my  accounts  and  papers  ready  as  well  as  I  could,  and  wrote 
memoranda  for  guidance,  and  a  letter  to  Lacroix.  Prayed 
very  much  that  the  Lord  would  spare  my  life  this  year,  if  it 
pleased  Him,  till  my  dear  wife  and  child  returned.    At  first 


448         MEMOIR  OP  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

the  thought  of  being  about  to  be  called  away,  during  her 
absence,  distressed  me  exceedingly,  especially  when  thinking 
of  my  children  ;  but  I  could  at  last  cast  myself,  with  all  my 
distress  and  sinfulness,  upon  J esus,  and  found  peace  in  the 
assurance — '  I  am  with  Thee,  Thou  art  mine.'  " 

"  May  1. — ^The  native  doctor  has  treated  me  skillfully, 
and  I  feel  quite  relieved  and  easy  ;  thank  God  !  I  would 
be  truly  grateful  for  this  new  deliverance,  and  would  say, 
with  David,  '  Thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death.'  " 

"  4:th. — I  have  been  keeping  quiet  to-day  for  recovering 
my  strength.  The  enemy  whispered  to  me  last  night,  'Lost 
a  whole  week.'  But  I  feel  pretty  sure,  that  time  is  not  lost, 
which  the  Lord  employs  to  lay  His  servants  low  at  His  foot- 
stool. Time  lost !  Why  He  does  not  want  such  a  poor 
fellow  as  I  am  at  all.  Oh !  may  I  learn  to  be  nothing,  and 
cheerfully  to  submit  to  His  will,  when  He  calls  me  to  sit 
quiet  and  wait  His  bidding !" 

Every  deeply-experienced  and  humble-minded  Christian 
can  enter,  more  or  less  feelingly,  into  the  sentiment  thus 
expressed  by  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  that  the  Lord  does  not  want 
their  poor  services,  and  can  carry  on  His  own  work  irrespect- 
ive of  their  aid.  It  is  a  lesson  which  He  Himself  is  con- 
stantly teaching  us,  by  the  dispensations  of  His  providence, 
but  it  is  one,  of  which  it  is  sometimes  very  difficult  to  realize 
the  truth ;  when,  as  in  the  present  case,  He  raises  up  an  in- 
strument, tunes  it  to  play  very  skillfully,  and  just  when  it 
seems  most  pleasant  in  its  sound,  and  best  fitted  to  delight 
us  and  do  Him  glorious  service,  removes  it,  saying,  "Father, 
I  will  that  he  also  whom  thou  hast  given  Me,  be  with  Me 
where  I  am,  that  he  may  behold  My  glory."  Yet  such  is 
often  His  own  divine  arrangement ;  and  He  knows  what  He 
is  about,  and  makes  no  mistakes.  It  was  often  on  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht's  lips,  "  I  trust  I  shall  be  spared  to  labor  a  few  years; 
longer  in  this  heathen  land."    But  there  can  be  no  doubt  he 


"do  not  become  an  ENGLISH  PREACHER."  449 

had,  at  the  same  time,  a  growing  feeling  of  the  nearness  of 
his  heavenly  home,  and  was  ever  on  the  watch  for  the  Mas- 
ter's summons.  He  would  gladly  have  remained  and  con- 
tinued to  take  his  share  in  the  arduous  conflict,  and  his  activ- 
ity and  energy  were  not  only  undiminished  but  increasing  ; 
but  he  saw  more  clearly,  as  he  approached  the  horizon  of 
his  mortal  life,  that  God  could  and  would  work  by  others, 
and  with  childlike  confidence  he  could  commit  even  his 
loved  labor  into  His  hands.  There  can  be  no  question  that 
his  faith  will  be  honored,  and  that  those  who  now  occupy 
his  sphere  will  be  blessed,  in  entering  into  his  labors. 

As  a  Christian  of  deep  and  long  experience,  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht  well  knew  the  dangers  attending  certain  relations  in 
life.  After  warmly  congratulating  a  friend  on  his  union 
with  a  Christian  lady,  he  adds  :  "  Beware,  my  dear  brother, 
that  you  do  not  fall  into  idolatry.  The  Lord  is  very  jeal- 
ous with  His  oicn  people.  He  will  have  the  first  place ; 
and  if  we  forget  that  point.  He  will  make  us  feel  it.  Poor 
S.,"  who  had  just  lost  his  wife,  "  must  be  desolate  and  sad 
indeed.  How  often  have  I  seen  the  most  excellent  of  our 
missionaries'  wives  removed  by  death !  It  is  an  ominous 
fact,  that  the  very  superior  and  heavenly-minded  ones  are 
unexpectedly  cut  off  by  some  sudden  stroke." 

A  little  later  we  find  him  giving  a  word  of  advice  and 
caution,  on  another  important  point :  "  I  sincerely  hope," 
he  writes  to  Mr.  Merk,  "  you  will  eventually  go  to  the 
Punjab,  and  not  remain  stuck  up  in  your  nest  on  the  moun- 
tain top.  And  when  you  are  once  down  in  the  plains,  let 
nothing  prevent  you  from  going  about,  at  once,  among  the 
people.  You  will  be  able  to  say  a  word  in  Hindee,  when 
the  Punjabi  is  not  ready  at  hand.  I  am  sure  it  is  a  mistake 
that  so  many  missionaries  sit  down  in  a  station.  I  would 
also  say  to  you, '  Do  not  become  an  English  preacher.'  The 
most  ready-spoken  is  in  a  measure  hindered  by  this,  espe- 


450  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

cially  in  the  beginning ;  and  a  portion  of  his  time  is  thus  ab- 
stracted from  his  direct  calling.  Few  men  can  do  more 
than  one  thing  thoroughly." 

Another  extract  from  a  letter  to  his  wife  continues  the 
narrative  to  the  close  of  May :  "  A  few  months  and  we 
shall  be  united  again,  if  it  be  the  will  of  our  gracious  God. 
Ours  is  a  peculiar  trial,  but  I  hope  for  the  good  of  your  and 
my  own  eternal  interests.  I  feel  happy  and  peaceful ;  the 
Lord  in  mercy  keeps  me,  in  a  great  measure,  free  from  that 
anxious  feeling  which  so  closely  borders  on  unhappiness  and 
discontent.  He  helps  me  to  realize  that  all  is  right,  and 
all  will  be  well  in  days  to  come,  because  we  are  in  His  hands. 
You  certainly  have  escaped  one  of  the  most  trying  hot  sea- 
sons, I  have  ever  experienced  in  India.  It  is  intense,  burn- 
ing, blistering  heat ;  every  body  is  talking  of  it  whose  lips 
are  not  too  much  parched. 

"  In  the  English  school,  first  and  second  classes,  there  is 
a  pleasing  movement.  If  it  do  not  end  in  conversion,  it 
certainly  shows  that  the  Spirit  of  truth  is  at  work.  Last 
week  the  second-class  boys  said,  after  reading :  '  We  are  all 
Christians  ;  we  believe  in  the  Saviour  !  The  trial  is  leaving 
home  and  all  things  for  Christ !'  And  they  added,  'Can  we 
not  be  believers,  without  going  away  from  our  friends  '?' 
Poor  fellows !  this  is  indeed  a  hard  ordeal,  but  the  Lord 
will  change  the  face  of  the  earth.  His  promised  time  is 
certainly  drawing  nigh.  Government  is  actually  going  to 
give  up  the  last  link  of  connection  with  horrid  old  Jugger- 
nath  ;  another  sign  of  the  times.  In  preaching  a  few  days 
ago  at  Sarbo  Mongola,  the  famous  idol-temple  you  have 
often  seen,  some  old  fakirs  were  much  affected  by  my  dis- 
course, and  sighed  again  and  again  while  I  was  showing  that 
the  spiritual  condition  of  the  Hindus  bore  an  exact  resem- 
blance to  the  bodily  state  of  the  blind  man.  I  felt  very 
much  encouraged  by  the  intense  attention  of  the  crowd 


DEATH  OF  PROFESSOR  STREET. 


451 


around  me,  when  I  recommended  Jesus  as  the  great  and 
good  Physician,  able  and  willing  to  take  away  their  blind- 
ness and  to  restore  the  light  of  divine  knowledge,  grace,  and 
salvation  to  their  souls.  Any  stranger  witnessing  such  a 
scene  would  say,  '  Surely  these  poor  people  must  be  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  ;'  but  we  are  laboring  on  a  hard  soil,  and 
idolatry  has  fearfully  wasted  and  ruined  man's  soul  in  this 
unhappy  land.  One  thing,  however,  is  clear.  We  must  go 
on,  and  hammer  away ;  the  hardest  granite  can  be  broken 
by  strong  and  continued  effort.  God,  in  His  own  time,  will 
make  good  His  promises !  I  have  good  news  for  you.  The 
new  Hymn-book  is  at  last  ordered  to  the  press ;  but  we  have 
hardly  a  copy  of  the  old  edition  remaining  for  use.  Ban- 
nerjea's  opinion  was  asked  upon  the  hymns.  He  said  he 
was  no  judge  of  poetry,  but  he  pointed  out  six  trivial  faults, 
all  of  which  were  in  the  old  hymns,  which  we  had  retained 
out  of  respect  to  the  old  missionaries  who  composed  them. 
Not  one  fault  was  remarked  in  the  two  hundred  new  ones, 
seventy-eight  of  which  are  from  my  pen  !  I  feel  humbly 
grateful  to  God,  for  the  help  He  has  afforded  me  in  this  em- 
ployment. I  have  also  completed  the  Infant-School  Manual. 
It  is  as  large  as  the  English  one  ;  and  all  the  little  hymns 
you  so  desired  to  have,  are  in  it.  The  Young  Cottager  is 
also  ready  for  the  press,  and  makes  a  nice  little  book  in 
Bengali.  I  shall  begin  another  as  soon  as  the  rains  have  set 
in  ;  but  at  present  my  strength  is  taxed  to  the  utmost,  and 
I  feel  the  truth  of  the  Bengali  hymn, 

*  The  earth  is  but  a  wilderness — 
A  land  of  drought  and  sore  distress.' 

May  grace  divine  keep  and  support  us  both !  My  heart 
yearns  after  the  sweet  babe. 

"  Professor  Street  died  on  the  29th  of  April,  just  when  I 
was  seriously  ill.  He  no  doubt  fell  a  martyr  to  his  zeal- 
ous and  unwearying  labors.    I  grieve  to  say  that  the  Brah- 


452  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


mun  youth,  Geidt  baptized  last  October,  has  been  decoyed 
away  by  his  friends.  I  always  feared  he  was  not  so  much 
in  earnest  as  the  other. 

"  The  conversions  at  Bowanipore  have  caused  a  great  ex- 
citement in  Calcutta.  '  The  heathen  rage,  and  the  people 
imagine  a  vain  thing,  but  He  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  shall 
laugh.'  " 

We  find  a  letter  in  his  journal  of  this  date,  indorsed, 
"  Very  encouraging."  It  was  from  the  missionary  student, 
to  whom  he  had  written  a  few  months  before,  and  con- 
cluded with  the  following  sentence :  "  You,  dear  sir,  first 
led  my  mind  to  contemplate  the  Avork,  when  you  were  in 
England,  and  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta's  sermon  at  St.  Bride's 
stirred  me  up,  and  led  to  a  resolve  to  devote  myself  to  my 
Saviour's  work  abroad."  * 

His  mother  adds:  "Had  you  looked  into  our  hearts,  dear 
Christian  friend,  you  could  not  have  written  more  satisfac- 
torily and  helpfully,  or  met  our  wishes  more  entirely ;  we 
do  indeed  feel  indebted  to  you." 

The  reply  which  follows,  was  sent  by  the  returning  mail : 

"ifay,  1851. 

"  My  Dear  Young  Friend  :  Your  letter  has  been  most 
gratifying  to  me.  I  am  delighted  that  you  have  opened  the 
door  wide,  and  communicated  to  me  your  views  and  feelings. 
Let  us  continue  this  plan,  and  our  correspondence  may  be  a 
mutual  blessing.  As  you  have  given  me  an  outline  of  your 
present  studies,  I  am  now  better  prepared  to  enter  into  youi 
position.  With  regard  to  Hebrew  I  would  say,  that  if  you 
are  able  to  read  a  chapter  in  the  historical  books  or  prophets^ 
and  translate  it  with  ease,  it  will  be  quite  sufficient  for  your 
purpose;  so  that,  in  case  you  engage  in  translation,  you  may 

*  This  promising  young  man,  Mr.  Suter,  has  since  proceeded  to  India 
in  connection  with  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Grospel  in  For- 
eign Parts,  and  is  stationed  at  Madras. 


ADVICE  TO  A  MISSIONARY  STUDENT. 


453 


be  able  to  refer  to  the  original  without  difficulty.  If  you 
wish  to  begin  any  of  our  vernacular  languages,  take  by  all 
means  the  Hindustani,  but  do  not  trouble  yourself  too  much 
about  it.  If  you  master  the  grammar  and  construct  some 
sentences,  it  will  be  quite  enough.  The  fact  is,  you  can 
acquire  the  knowledge  of  it  with  far  more  ease  here,  from 
natives  who  speak  it  fluently.  As  to  Persian,  let  me  advise 
you  to  leave  it  alone,  as  you  have  more  important  tasks 
before  you.  If  you  can  get  through  a  Sanscrit  grammar, 
and  learn  the  roots  and  to  translate  a  little,  you  will  be  able 
to  get  on  in  Bengali  with  comparative  ease.  As  mathematics 
are  not  much  to  your  taste,  I  would  say,  leave  them,  and  give 
your  undivided  attention,  for  some  time,  to  theology  in  its 
different  branches.  A  course  of  lectures  on  the  treatment 
of  diseases,  as  I  said  in  my  last,  will  be  of  rnxLoh. practical  use 
to  you  hereafter.  By  the  way,  have  you  a  taste  for  draw- 
ing 1  I  mention  it  because  on  my  tours,  when  surrounded 
by  picturesque  scenery,  I  have  again  and  again  regretted  my 
inability  to  make  a  sketch,  which  renders  a  journal  addition- 
ally interesting.  The  fact  is,  there  is  hardly  a  branch  of 
science  or  literature,  which  may  not  be  turned  to  some  good 
account  by  the  missionary  in  a  heathen  land,  at  one  time  or 
another. 

But  after  all,  my  dear  friend,  the  great  point  for  the 
student  in  di\dnity  is,  to  live  near  the  Fountain,  and  to  draw 
water  thence  freely,  for  his  spiritual  support,  growth,  and 
refreshment.  You  have  doubtless  heard  a  saying  of  Luther, 
'■Oratio,  medltatio,  ei  teniaiio,  faciunt  theologum;'  and  I  do 
believe,  there  never  was  one  who  pronounced  a  sentence, 
from  so  full  a  treasure  of  personal  experienc/e  as  that  great 
man  possessed. 

"  I  read  the  other  day  another  equally  beautiful  sentence 
by  Melancthon,  who  says  :  '  Ego  mihi  ita  conscius  sum, 
nunquam  aliam  ob  causam  tractavisse  theologiam,  nisi  ut 


454  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

me  ipsum  emendarem  ;'  and  below  this,  there  is  the  follow- 
ing effusion  of  his  tender  and  sweetly  pious  spirit : 

*  Fac  ut  possim  demonstrare, 
Quam  sit  dulce  te  amare, 
Tecum  pati,  tecum  flere, 
Tecum  semper  congaudere.' 

This  is  what  we  call  in  Germany  Her  sens  Theologie — '  the- 
ologia  cordis.'  Oh  !  what  a  blessed  savor  it  spreads  over 
the  whole  being  of  a  man  !  It  sanctifies  and  consecrates  for 
the  glory  of  Christ,  all  other  knowledge.  May  you,  my 
dear  friend,  be  taught  by  grace  to  resemble  Melancthon ! 
This  consecration  of  the  heart  is  what  made  Henry  Martyn 
and  Fox  such  eminent  laborers.  A  young  man  who  lays  a 
good  foundation,  on  a  spiritual  and  experimental  knowledge 
of  Christ,  is  sure  to  become  a  good,  faithful,  and  persevering 
missionary.  Alas  !  I  have  seen  many  coming  and  going  in 
this  heathen  land;  the  temptations  are  numerous,  and  equally 
so  the  causes  which  may  and  will  produce  spiritual  relaxa- 
tion, weariness,  and  deadness ;  but  if  the  heart  be  sound,  and 
the  affections  set  on  things  above,  a  man  will  stand  his  ground, 
and  weather  every  storm  If  my  scheme  be  sanc- 
tioned, I  shall  be  out  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year. 
An  old  missionary  who  has  the  Bengali  language  fully,  can 
not  employ  his  time  in  a  better  way  ;  and  my  time  may  be 

short  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

A  letter  to  Mr.  Suter's  mother,  which  accompanied  the 
preceding,  is  well  worthy  of  insertion  after  it : 

"  May  30. 

"  My  Dear  Friend  :  Your  son's  letter  gave  me  much  joy 
and  encouragement.  I  admire  the  calm,  sober,  reflective,  and 
pious  spirit  which  breathes  in  it.  I  shall  gladly  correspond 
with  him,  for  I  know  the  value  of  indirect  influence  upon  the 


CONFIDENCE   IN   THE   LORD  JESUS.  455 

minds  of  young  people.  A  word  in  season — a  caution — a 
word  of  encourageraent,  especially  when  coming  from  a  far 
country,  is  not  easily  forgotten;  it  makes  an  impression. 
The  temptations  of  a  college  life  are  doubtless  many  ;  and 
amidst  the  variety  of  studies  and  eagerness  to  get  on,  the 
tender  plant  of  spiritual  life  in  a  youth  is  easily  nipped. 
Then  there  is  a  world,  a  disputing,  philosophizing,  captious 
world,  around  the  pious  student,  and  unfavorable  influences 
of  every  kind  press  in  upon  him.  Yet  there  is  no  cause  to 
fear.  The  Lord  Jesus  dwells  in  colleges  too ;  and  when  a 
youth  is  under  the  teaching  of  His  good  Spirit,  I  believe  He 
will  fulfill  His  promise,  '  No  man  shall  pluck  them  out  of 
My  hand.'  After  earnest  prayer,  we  may  safely  leave  the 
management  of  the  great  work  to  His  keeping. 

"  Ah !  how  little  can  I  do  for  my  dear  children.  Some- 
times I  can  feel  it  very  deeply,  and  then  I  say,  '  Lord  thou 
knowest  it;'  and  He  tells  me,  'Yea,  I  know  thy  works,  and 
thy  tribulation  and  poverty ;'  and  again,  '  I  know  where  thou 
dwellest.'  I  often  earnestly  pray,  as  one  reward  for  having 
left  my  dear  children,  that  the  Lord  may  make  them  all  truly 
pious.  If  He  grant  me  this  favor,  I  shall  be  rich  and  re- 
warded indeed.  I  feel  that,  on  this  point,  we  can  not  pray 
amiss. 

"  I  am  truly  grateful  to  your  dear  husband,  for  so  kindly 
undertaking  the  office  of  sponsor  to  our  dear  little  boy.  I 
am  sure  you  will  both  remember  the  child  in  your  prayers  ; 
and  it  is  delightful  to  realize  the  fact,  that  this  spiritual  incense, 
so  acceptable  to  God,  will  thus  rise  from  the  east  and  the 
west  for  the  same  blessed  purpose.  I  often  feel  greatly  en- 
couraged by  the  thought,  that  many  dear  friends  pray  for  us. 
And  you  too  were  one  of  the  first  to  visit  my  dear  wife  and 
welcome  her.  In  spirit  I  enjoyed  the  pleasure  with  her 
meeting  a  circle  of  beloved  friends ;  but  the  Lord  is  very- 
gracious,  and  does  not  allow  me  to  suffer  want.    He  is  pre- 


456  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


paring  for  Himself  a  glorious  work  here,  though  its  progress 
is  slow ;  but  India  will  at  length  resound  with  the  praises 
of  Jesus.  Who  would  not  joyfully  work  towards  that  end, 
though  the  consummation  be  distant  still  1  You  have  sent 
me  a  precious  treasure,  dear  friend,  in  that  book  of  Cecil's. 
How  I  enjoy  the  splendid,  often  brilliant  thoughts !  It  is  a 
valuable  companion  to  a  missionary  in  his  loneliness.  I 
never  read  it  without  deriving  good  for  my  soul.    It  is  a 

storehouse  of  intellectual  provision  — Your  sincere 

and  affectionate  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  short  letters  which  have  been  introduced  in  this  Me- 
moir, from  Mr.  Weitbrecht  to  his  children,  will  show  that, 
although  he  could  not  but  mourn,  as  every  parent  must  do, 
his  being  so  cut  off  from  personal  intercourse  with  them,  he 
made  continual  efforts  to  do  all  that  in  him  lay  to  benefit 
them,  by  epistolary  communications;  though  these,  with  child- 
ren especially,  form  but  a  poor  substitute  for  the  speaking 
eye,  and  the  tender  tones  of  an  affectionate  parent.  He 
sent  about  this  time  a  beautiful  letter  of  advice  to  his  son, 
accompanied  by  the  following  prayer  : 

"  O  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  teach  me  to  pray  by  Thy 
Holy  Spirit.  Thou  hast  promised  in  Thy  Word  that  those 
who  seek  Thee  early  shall  find  Thee.  I  desire  to  become 
Thy  sincere  and  humble  disciple,  and  to  consecrate  my  body 
and  soul,  which  Thou  hast  created  and  redeemed  with  Thy 
precious  blood,  to  Thy  service.  Though  young,  I  feel  I  am 
a  sinful  being  in  Thy  sight,  and  without  a  change  of  heart  I 
can  not  be  saved.  Enable  me  truly  to  repent  of  sin,  to  be- 
lieve in  Thee  as  an  all-sufficient  Saviour.  Make  me  a  new 
creature,  and  may  I  find  my  joy  in  following  Thee,  the  Good 
Shepherd.  Preserve  me,  O  Lord !  amidst  the  many  temp- 
tations by  which  I  am  surrounded.  May  the  example  of 
bad  and  careless  youths  not  injure  my  soul.    Give  me  a  spirit 


LAST  TISIT  TO  KRISHNAGHUR. 


457 


of  prayer,  enable  me  to  put  down  every  sinful  desire,  and 
give  me  strength  to  overcome  every  temptation. 

"  Bless  my  studies ;  make  me  humble  and  obedient  to  my 
superiors,  faithful  and  conscientious  in  the  discharge  of  every 
duty,  kind  and  affectionate  to  my  companions,  compassionate 
and  forgiving  towards  those  who  offend  me.  May  I  never 
be  ashamed  to  confess  Christ  before  the  world,  May  I  re- 
member, at  all  times,  that  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me, 
and  may  I  dread  nothing  so  much  as  to  sin  against  my  God, 
and  grieve  His  Spirit.  And  if  I  am  overcome  by  a  fault, 
give  me  a  humble,  contrite  heart  to  confess  my  sin ;  and  do 
Tliou  heal  my  soul,  and  restore  to  me  the  light  of  Thy  coun- 
tenance. 

"  Bless  my  dear  parents,  brothers,  and  sisters.  Give  my 
father  grace  and  strength  faithfully  to  preach  the  Gospel 
among  the  heathen,  and  rejoice  his  heart  by  many  a  seal  of 
his  ministry  in  the  conversion  of  the  poor  Hindus. 

"  And  when  we  have  finished  our  work  on  earth,  may  we 
all  meet  again  in  the  Father's  house  above,  a  happy,  blessed 
family,  to  dwell  together  for  ever  in  the  presence  of  Him 
who  loved  us,  and  to  sing  His  praises  throughout  eternity." 

To  Major  Straith  he  writes :  "  I  would  express  my  cordial 
acknowledgments,  for  all  the  kindness  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  has 
received,  from  Mrs.  Straith  and  yourself.  Her  letter,  de- 
scriptive of  her  visit  to  you,  was  a  sweet  encouragement  to 
me,  and  an  assurance  that  we  are  remembered  by  our  friends 
at  home,  with  much  Christian  affection;  and  that  prayer 
without  ceasing,  of  the  Church,  is  made  for  us." 

On  the  4th  Mr.  Weitbrecht  again  left  home,  to  visit  Krish- 
naghur,  where  the  conference  was  to  held,  at  one  of  the  dis- 
trict stations.  "  May  the  Lord  watch  over  our  little  Zion," 
he  writes,  "  during  our  absence !  I  hope  we  shall  have  a  nice 
meeting.  We  want  more  of  a  devout  praying  spirit  on  such 
occasions.  I  feel  deeply  that  we  missionaries,  as  a  body, 
20 


458  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

sadly  lack  spirituality  of  mind."  He  describes  the  most 
interesting  features  of  this  little  journey,  in  a  letter  dated 
Solo.  We  will  transcribe  a  few  paragraphs  :  "  Our  confer- 
ence was  one  of  the  very  best,  and  I  had  some  happy  days 
among  my  brethren.  How  good  it  is,  thus  to  dwell  together 
in  unity!  It  was  held  at  Rottenpore;  and  after  it  was  over, 
Lipp  accompanied  me  to  Bollopore,  where  I  preached  on 
Sunday  in  Lincke's  pretty  church.  About  three  hundred 
and  fifty  were  present,  including  children.  It  was  a  cheering 
sight  to  me ;  the  people  are  so  improved,  and  their  attention 
was  very  satisfactory.  There  is  the  groundwork  for  a  fine 
body  of  believing  people.  The  children  all  sitting  together, 
and  so  neatly  attired,  looked  most  interesting.  On  entering 
the  reading-desk,  I  recognized  an  old  friend,  in  which  I  had 
read  prayers  many  a  time  before.  The  pulpit, font,  railings, 
all  reminded  me  of  my  old  chapel  at  Burdwan.*  The  Christ- 
ian village  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  has  now  extended  its 
borders  to  the  adjoining  heathen  village.  There  are  at  least 
a  hundred  families  dwelling  in  it,  and  Lincke  takes  much 
pains  with  them.  This  spot  was  a  wild  jungle  two  years  ago. 
There  is  a  large  idol  temple,  in  ruins,  near  the  mission- 
compound.  Lincke's  people  are  clearing  away  the  jungle 
around  it,  and  with  the  bricks  he  is  building  the  steps  at  the 
entrance  to  his  church,  and  a  separation-wall  between  it  and 
the  Christian  village.  This  is  making  a  good  use  of  the 
stones  of  an  idol  temple,  turning  Satan's  materials  to  a 
proper  service.  We  may  draw  a  pleasing  inference  from 
this  conversion  of  brick  and  mortar.  It  is  an  auspicious 
omen.  On  the  15th  I  came  here,  and  as  soon  as  my  palan- 
quin was  espied  in  the  fields,  the  boys  and  girls  came  run- 
ning out  to  meet  me.  Dear  Bomwetch  is  very  energetic 
and  very  spiritual,  but  I  fear  he  will  work  himself  to  death. 
There  are  seventy  girls  and  nearly  as  many  boys.  They 

*  Mr.  "Weitbrecht  had  presented  his  brother  Lincke  with  these  things. 


DOWNFALL  OF  BRAHMUNISM. 


459 


read  the  Old  Testament,  and  get  a  remarkably  correct  and 
clear  knowledge  of  Bible  history  ;  to  this  is  added  profane 
history,  so  that  the  youths  in  pointing  out  Babylon,  Nineveh, 
Tarsus,  Smyrna,  can  at  once  give  you  an  account  of  the 
empire  which  flourished,  or  of  the  individuals  who  lived,  or 
of  the  churches  which  were  established,  in  the  respective 
places.  I  was  agreeably  surprised,  in  seeing  girls  of  ten  and 
twelve  years  old  tracing  the  travels  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  and 
pointing  out  the  places  in  which  he  preached,  suffered,  and 
established  churches,  with  the  greatest  ease.  In  geography 
they  are  much  advanced,  and  are  particulaly  at  home  in  the 
map  of  Canaan.  A  young  married  woman,  and  a  first-class 
girl  teach  the  first  and  second  classes  geography.  Some  of 
the  girls  and  two  of  the  female  teachers  are  truly  pious. 
Their  singing  in  parts  is  beautiful.  I  was  deeply  affected, 
the  first  evening,  when  conducting  evening  service ;  they 
sang  a  hymn  to  one  of  our  solemn  German  tunes.  The 
moral  and  spiritual  influence  which  Bomwetch  exercises  upon 
his  young  flock  is  very  great.  There  is  a  cheerful,  happy 
spirit  prevailing  among  them ;  they  enter  with  smiling  faces, 
and  like  to  hear  a  word  of  encouragement  from  a  visitor. 
All  seem  much  attached  to  him.  We  have  had  some  delight- 
ful prayer-meetings  together,  and  he  says  he  has  felt  as  in 
Paradise,  for  the  last  four  days.  The  ground-work  is  laid 
for  prosperous  churches  in  this  district.  I  was  engaged 
in  revising  translations  all  my  leisure  hours  during  this 
trip." 

In  writing  to  his  brother  Charles  at  this  time,  he  re- 
marks : 

{Translation.) — "India  will  at  last,  as  you  express  it,  be- 
come a  distinguished  gem  in  the  crown  of  our  Redeemer. 
The  Hindus,  especially  those  of  the  higher  classes,  feel  that 
the  downfall  of  Brahmunism  is  at  hand.  They  are  doing 
their  best  to  support  the  tottering  fabric ;  but  their  most 


460  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

stringent  measures  are  all  ineffectual.  Ten  young  men  of 
education  have  lately  joined  our  ranks,  and  the  last  baptism, 
which  has  but  just  taken  place,  was  that  of  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  banker.  He  is  one  of  the  most  learned  and  best- 
informed  men  in  Calcutta,  about  twenty-five  years  old,  and 
his  conversion  must  have  a  great  influence.  He  was 
brought  to  take  the  step  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  his 
young  wife." 

According  to  the  most  authentic  or  accurate  statistics, 
above  one  hundred  educated  young  men  have  become  con. 
verts  to  Christianity  in  the  city  of  Calcutta,  within  the  last 
twenty  years  ;  several  of  them  are  of  high  rank. 

The  circumstance  above  alluded  to,  is  a  most  striking 
instance  of  the  power  of  the  Word  of  God  to  convert  the 
heart.  The  young  Hindu  lady,  whose  death  was  productive 
of  such  important  consequences,  was  one  of  unusual  intel- 
ligence and  decision  of  character,  and  had  read  the  Bible 
with  her  husband  in  private.  Both  were  of  one  mind  on 
the  subject  of  religion,  and  had  fully  resolved  to  confess 
Christ  before  men;  but  just  as  the  decision  had  been  arrived 
at,  she  became  ill  and  died.  When  her  husband  saw  her 
about  to  depart,  he  inquired,  "  Do  you  die  in  a  spirit  of 
faith  and  hope?"  "Do  you  doubt  it?"  replied  she;  "I 
die  in  the  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus."  She  then  desired 
the  Scriptures  to  be  read  to  her,  and  after  listening  for  some 
time,  asked  him  to  give  her  a  parting  kiss,  and  then  said, 
"  Now  let  me  sleep,"  and  slept  the  sleep  of  death.  "  No 
missionary  was  instrumental  here,"  remarks  Mr.  W. ;  "  all 
was  accomplished  by  private  study,  and  the  Spirit  that 
leadeth  into  all  truth."  A  few  more  such  conversions, 
among  the  great  and  wealthy,  will  shake  Hinduism  to  its 
very  foundation. 

It  was  customary  with  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  to  hold  prepara- 
tory meetings  with  the  native  Christians,  before  the  celebra- 


PRAYERS  NOT  FORGOTTEN. 


461 


tion  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  He  records  in  his  journal  of 
this  month,  the  openness  of  heart  which  he  felt  when  speak- 
ing to  them,  the  men  and  women  separately,  and  the  bless- 
ing they  all  seemed  to  experience.  He  had,  in  all  these  en- 
gagements, that  unction  from  the  Holy  One,  that  made 
them  seasons  of  refreshment  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
to  his  own  soul,  and  to  the  souls  of  his  people ;  yet  we  find 
him  again  complaining,  as  one  who  knows  the  plague  of  his 
own  heart  ever  must.  In  writing  to  a  dear  fellow-laborer, 
he  says,  "  It  saddens  me  to  see  how  lean  and  light  we  all 
are  more  or  less.  Oh  !  what  want  of  earnestness  and  pray- 
erfulness !  We  have  all  to  cry  out.  My  leanness !  my  lean- 
ness !— (Rom.  7  :  22,  23.)" 

In  the  journal  of  the  14th,  Mr.  W.  writes  :  "  I  preached 
near  a  Kali  temple  from  1st  Peter  1:3,'  Blessed  be  the 
God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  etc.  It  was  a 
text  I  never  made  use  of  among  heathens  before.  The 
Brahmuns  seemed  to  be  quite  affected  by  the  beauty  of  the 
Gospel,  and  the  bright  prospect  it  opens  into  heaven !  I 
feel  I  have  done  right  in  applying  for  leave  to  become  a 
preaching  missionary  exclusively. 

"  I  often  entreat  the  Lord  not  to  call  me  away  from  this 
mission,  before  a  number  of  the  villages  around  us  embrace 
the  Gospel.  It  appears  as  if  He  is  about  to  have  a  contro- 
versy with  the  poor  Hindus,  which  may  give  effect  to  our 
preaching.  There  will  be  a  great  failure  in  the  rice  crops 
from  want  of  rain.  May  this  humble  and  soften  them, 
and  make  them  willing  to  receive  the  Gospel !" 

It  did  not  please  God  to  answer  these  prayers  in  the  way 
he  hoped  ;  yet  they  are  gone  up  as  a  memorial  before  Him, 
and  will  be  fulfilled  in  their  season.  "I  have  heard  thy 
prayers,  I  have  seen  thy  tears,"  said  Jehovah  to  his  servant 
Hezekiah ;  and  He  is  still  the  same  faithful  God.  Not  one 
of  His  servants'  humble  petitions  are  forgotten  before  Him, 


462         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

but  are  presented  continually  by  the  angel  standing  at  the 
golden  altar  which  is  before  the  throne.  By  and  by  His 
treasures  of  grace  will  be  poured  out  in  all  their  fullness 
upon  the  poor  Hindus. 

"  The  Rajah  of  Burdwan  has  established  a  place  of  wor- 
ship, fitted  np  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  chapel,  with  rail- 
ings and  red  velvet  cushions.  The  service  is  held  every 
Saturday  evening,  in  the  style  of  the  Vedantist  Dhurma 
Subhu  in  Calcutta.  The  Rajah  told  a  friend,  that  he  wanted 
to  find  out  truth.  Oh !  that  he  were  earnest  and  sincere  re- 
garding this  vital  point !  He  sent  me  an  invitation,  and  I 
purpose  to  go,  in  hope  of  doing  something  for  my  Lord.  I 
hear  the  Rajah  has  addressed  the  congregation  himself." 

An  interesting  paper  in  reference  to  this  will  be  found  in 
No.  IV.  of  the  Appendix. 


LOOKING  FOR  THE  BREAK  OF  DAY. 


563 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Continuation  of  Incidents  —  Visit  of  Mr.  Woodrow — Arrival  of  New 
Missionaries — Their  Opinion  of  Him — Last  Visit  to  Bancoorali — Last 
Extensive  Tour — Incidents — Arrival  of  his  Wife — Letter  to  a  Young 
Missionary — Several  Interesting  Letters. 

1851. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  will  continue  the  nar- 
rative : 

"  This  is  a  time  when  the  Lord's  people  should  particu- 
larly remember  the  Bengal  mission,  in  their  earnest  prayers. 
The  movement  in  the  Krishnaghur  district  took  place  in  a 
season  of  similar  distress.  Our  orphan  schools  were  filled 
seventeen  years  ago,  by  the  calamity  of  floods.  May  a 
similar  blessing  descend  upon  the  Lord's  inheritance  now  ! 
The  Hindus  in  the  bazaar  of  Burdwan,  and  in  the  villages 
acknowledge,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  is  stretched  out 
over  them  for  their  sins.  Perhaps  this  calamity  may  really 
become  instrumental  in  humbling  their  stubborn  hearts, 
and  opening  their  eyes  to  see  that  the  day  of  salvation  is 
come  for  them.  It  makes  me  more  desirous  than  ever,  to 
give  my  whole  time  and  strength  to  preaching,  during  the 
remaining  years  of  my  pilgrimage;  and  last  week  I  was 
out  again  declaring  the  love  of  Christ  to  sinners  every  day. 
This  morning  I  sent  two  catechists,  Nodiachand  and  Thomas, 


464  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

across  the  Damudah,  to  the  southern  parts  of  the  district. 
I  am  like  the  watchman  looking  for  the  break  of  day.  Oh ! 
could  I,  for  once,  witness  an  interest  excited,  and  a  desire 
after  God  and  His  salvation,  how  would  my  heart  rejoice, 
how  amply  should  I  consider  myself  repaid  for  all  my 
cares  and  toils  on  behalf  of  this  nation !  I  was  comforted 
with  the  thought,  last  week,  that  the  love  and  compassion 
of  Christ  towards  these  perishing  creatures  is  infinitely 
greater  than  ours  can  be.  Ours  is  a  tiny  spark ;  His,  the 
sun — an  ocean  of  mercy.  I  quite  agree  with  dear  sainted 
Wybrow,  in  what  he  said  in  his  last  letter,  that  '  One  of  the 
principal  qualifications  both  for  missionaries  abroad,  and 
those  who  labor  in  the  work  at  home,  is  patient  endurance 
amidst  all  trials  and  hopes  deferred,'  This  cuts  at  the  root 
of  selfishness,  and  humbles  the  instrument  into  the  dust. 
May  the  Lord  grant  us  a  yet  greater  measure  of  this  grace  ; 
for  sometimes  I  feel  as  if  my  strength  and  patience  and 
love  were  all  melting  away  together  in  this  sultry  clime. 
Our  joy,  and  probably  our  pride,  would  be  to  show  a  fine 
list  of  new  converts  ;  and,  behold  !  we  have  but  few.  Of 
course  our  friends  at  home  look  with  eagerness  to  this  pal- 
pable proof  of  missionary  success,  when  the  Annual  Re- 
port arrives.  Last  Sunday  I  preached  from  Heb.  11  :  16, 
*  But  now  they  desire  a  better  country,  that  is,  a  heavenly 
one.'  What  a  sweet  rest,  what  a  happiness  will  it  be  to 
us  when  we  are  landed  there !  A  residence  in  such  a  land 
as  this  teaches  us,  in  a  more  lively  manner  than  we  could 
perhaps  otherwise  realize  it,  that  our  home  is  there.  I  have 
been  beseeching  the  Lord,  to  strengthen  you  for  the  trial 
of  separation  from  our  dear  children,  which  I  feel  with  you. 
When  I  saw  the  vessel  carrying  them  away,  I  remembered 
the  words  of  an  American  missionary's  wife,  who  said,  on 
giving  her  children  her  last  kiss,  afler  accompanying  them 
to  the  sea-shore,  '  Blessed  Jesus !  I  do  this  for  Thee.'  That 


A  SKETCH  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 


465 


Saviour  will  make  His  strength  perfect  in  your  weakness. 
He  knows  that  we  do  it  for  His  name's  sake.  And  after  all, 
what  are  our  little  sacrifices  when  compared  with  what  He 
did,  to  bring  us  out  of  a  gulf  of  dark  despair,  and  make  us 
heirs  of  glory !" 

On  the  30th  of  October  Mr.  Weitbrecht  welcomed  to 
the  mission  field,  with  great  delight,  the  son  of  a  highly-es- 
teemed friend,  Professor  Stern  of  Carlsruhe,  a  most  godly 
and  devoted  man,  who  had  given  up  three  of  his  children  to 
the  Lord's  work  in  India,  and  one  as  Jewish  missionary  in 
his  native  land.  He  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fitzpatrick,  who  were  going  to  commence  the  mission  in 
the  Punjab.  He  had  entertained  a  fervent  hope,"  that  the 
Calcutta  Committee  would,  at  his  earnest  request,  have  al- 
lowed Mr.  Stern  to  continue  with  him  for  a  year,  till  a  bro- 
ther was  sent  out  from  England ;  but  in  this,  it  pleased  God 
again  to  disappoint  his  sanguine  expectations,  and  to  teach 
him  to  go  on,  waiting  on  Him  to  the  end.  That  end  was 
rapidly  approaching,  and  he  now  sees  the  wisdom  and  the 
love,  which  arranged  and  appointed  all  these  trials  of  his 
faith  and  patience.  One  of  these  brethren  afterwards  gave 
expression  to  some  of  the  feelings  which  filled  his  mind,  in 
the  recollection  of  his  short  sojourn  with  "  this  dear  elder 
brother,"  at  the  time  while  they  enjoyed,  as  he  says,  "  his 
very  generous  but  unaffected  hospitality."  *'  Though  our 
intercourse,"  he  adds,  "  lasted  but  three  days,  yet  the  inter- 
course of  thought  has  brought  him  near  me  repeatedly  since  ; 
for  his  frank  and  kindly  disposition  placed  us  at  once  on 
terms  of  brotherly  intimacy.  As  a  missionary,  he  was  evi- 
dently fitted  for  a  foremost  place.  Long-continued  faithful- 
ness and  devotedness  had  gained  him  the  promotion,  which 
the  Lord  gives  to  his  servants.  His  earnestness  in  endea- 
voring to  combine  the  utmost  wisdom  and  prudence,  in  the 
ministration  of  the  Gospel,  with  the  most  unsuspecting  and 
20* 


466         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHIJ  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

fearless  fidelity,  struck  me  exceedingly,  in  union  with  his 
love,  and  the  tenderness  of  expression  peculiar  to  him.  His 
naturally  simple,  candid  disposition  perhaps  helped  towards 
this ;  but  it  may  be  ascribed  chiefly  to  his  childlike  faith, 
which  led  him  to  try  and  do  just  what  his  Father  in  heaven 
would  have  him  do.  I  confess  I  was  also  much  captivated  by 
his  love  of  country,  blended  with  his  love  of  all  men.  This 
was  not  passive  affection,  but  intensely  active,  and  it  gave  an 
inexpressible  charm  to  his  character.  A  thorough  German, 
he  was  yet  an  Englishman.  In  love  for  his  native  land  none 
surpassed  him  ;  but  in  that  just  appreciation  of  the  virtues 
of  other  lands,  which  a  discerning  candid  mind  delights  in, 
few  equalled  him ;  indeed  in  this,  as  in  all  other  respects,  he 
seemed  to  me  utterly  to  abjure  all  narrowness  and  selfish- 
ness. He  was  also  quite  familiar  with  the  passing  events 
of  the  day,  and  as  correctly  acquainted  with  all  politi- 
cal matters,  as  any  man  of  the  world,  though  he  took  a 
very  different  view  regarding  them  to  those  of  ordinary 
observers." 

This  fervent  and  heart-felt  expression  of  one  who  saw  him 
for  the  first  time,  is  singularly  confirmed  by  a  similar  one 
from  his  brother  Boswell,  who  remarks :  "  One  said  of  a 
friend  that  he  was  the  most  invulnerable  man  he  knew,  and 
that  if  he  had  a  quarrel  with  him,  he  did  not  know  where  he 
could  assail  him.  It  was  very  much  so  with  this  dear  serv- 
ant of  the  Lord.  I  have  known  him  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  and  sometimes  seen  him  very  near ;  and  whatever  he 
might  say  of  himself,  I  could  not  select  his  failing.  I  never 
saw  him,  without  feeling  the  better  for  his  presence,  and  hav- 
ing every  purpose  of  good  strengthened  in  my  soul."  The 
apostle  directs  believers  to  walk  as  "  living  epistles  of  Christ, 
known  and  read  of  all  men,"  and  this  was  the  mark  at  which 
Mr.  Weitbrecht  aimed,  and  towards  the  attainment  of 
which  he  strove,  as  he  himself  declared  in  his  moments  of 


THE  SERVICE  OF  HEAVEN. 


467 


most  confidential  intercourse.  The  Saviour  whose  Spirit  he 
sought  to  enable  him  thus  to  magnify  His  own  grace  in  him, 
aided  him  in  a  wonderful  manner  towards  the  fulfillment  of 
his  desires,  and  to  Him  be  all  the  glory. 

We  find  in  his  journal,  at  this  time,  continual  allusion  to 
great  weariness  of  body.  On  one  occasion  he  says  :  "  After 
becoming  tired  to  exhaustion  with  speaking,  I  went  to  call 
on  a  native  gentleman  to  converse  with  him."  And  there 
are  several  similar  entries.  His  physical  powers  were  evi- 
dently failing  him  considerably ;  but  as  the  outward  man 
was  decaying,  the  inward  man  was  so  renewed  day  by  day, 
that  he  did  not  appear  to  realize  it,  or  to  perceive  himself, 
how  the  great  heat  and  his  unwearied  labors  had  exhausted 
his  frame,  and  prepared  him  to  fall  at  once  under  the  final 
attack.  Yet,  had  his  gracious  God  so  willed  it.  He  could 
again  have  strengthened  him ;  but  he  was  ripe  for  His  pre- 
sence, and  a  few  more  weeks  only  were  to  intervene  before  he 
was  to  "  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city,"  and  to 
"inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  him."  He  had  been 
careful  not  only  to  serve  his  Master  much,  but  to  please 
Him  perfectly  ;  and  he  had  again  and  again  been  permitted 
to  experience,  as  "Watts  so  beautifully  expresses  it,  that 

"  Most  wondrous  joys  He  lets  us  know 
In  fields  and  villages  below ; 
Gives  us  a  relish  of  His  love — 
But  keeps  His  noblest  feasts  above ! 

"In  Paradise,  within  the  gates, 
A  higher  entertainment  waits ; 
Fruits  new  and  old,  laid  up  in  store, 
Where  we  shall  feed,  but  thirst  no  more." 

Truly  a  glorious  harvest  is  laid  up  for  him  in  that  heavenly 
garner !  and  "  there  he  is  now  "  as  Bunyan  says,  "  receiving 
the  comfort  of  all  his  toil,  and  joy  for  all  his  sorrow;  there 


468  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

he  now  reaps  what  he  has  sown,  even  the  fruit  of  all  his  pray- 
ers, and  tears,  and  sufferings  for  the  King  by  the  way  ;  there 
he  can  serve  Him  continually  whom  he  desired  to  serve  be- 
low, though  with  much  difficulty,  because  of  the  infirmity  of 
the  flesh ;  there  his  eye  is  delighted  with  seeing,  and  his  ear 
with  hearing  the  pleasant  voice  of  that  mighty  One  who 
redeemed  him  to  God  with  his  blood." 

The  Lord  had  known  him  in  the  wilderness,  in  the  land 
of  great  drought.  He  had  watched  the  progress  he  was 
making  through  it,  and  knew  that  he  was  now  drawing  near 
the  borders  of  it,  coming  up  from  it,  leaning  upon  Him. 
Precious  was  he  in  His  sight,  at  this  advanced  stage  of  his 
pilgrimage,  now  that  his  desert-journey  was  almost  finished, 
his  labors,  his  conflicts  almost  over. 

On  the  4th  of  December  he  reached  home  once  more,  and 
on  the  11th  left  for  Calcutta  to  meet  his  wife.  He  was  of 
course  much  occupied  with  business,  "which,"  he  says, 
*'  crowds  in  upon  me ;  but  I  rise  at  five,  and  have  a  delight- 
ful hour  for  prayer  and  reading."  He  also  found  time  to 
write  to  his  young  brother  Stern,  who  had  informed  him  of 
his  safe  arrival  at  Benares.  His  letter  follows,  and  a  few 
lines  are  also  added  out  of  a  long  and  grateful  reply  to  it. 
"  His  kindness  to  young  Christians  in  general,  and  young 
missionaries  in  particular,  was,"  says  a  Baptist  missionary. 
Dr.  Wenger,  "  ever  the  kindness  of  an  elder  brother,  spon- 
taneous, warm-hearted,  wise,  free  from  all  patronizing  airs 
or  selfish  calculations  ;  and  it  was  of  such  an  expansive  cha- 
racter as  to  disregard  official  and  national  limits.  Some 
such,  who  preceded  him  to  heaven,  have  gratefully  welcomed 
him  to  the  everlasting  habitations." 

''Dec.  16. 

"  My  Dear  Brother  Stern  ;  Your  welcome  letter  reach- 
ed me  in  a  village  fifty  miles  distant  from  home.  I  was 
very  glad  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  at  Benares,  and  that 


LETTER  TO  MR.  STERN. 


469 


the  Committee  direct  your  party  to  remain  there  for  a  sea- 
son. Nothing  can  be  better  for  ■  young  missionaries,  not 
even  excepting  young  gentlemen  from  college  with  an 
A.M.  or  A.B.  to  their  names,  than  learning  mission  work 
from  those,  who  have  spent  the  best  part  of  their  life  in  the 
field  ;  for  though  the  old  ones  may  not  be  Masters  of  Arts, 
their  experience  renders  them  as  valuable  as  the  pleasant- 
sounding  title  of  a  graduate ;  for  a  faithful  laborer  has  pur- 
chased to  himself  a  good  degree ;  this  is  one  from  6  Hapd- 
KXrjTog  Himself 

"  May  the  Lord  give  you  grace  to  live  near  Him,  much 
■  in  a  spirit  of  prayer.  Let  me  affectionately  advise  you,  as 
an  elder  brother,  to  adopt  a  resolution,  with  a  view  to  ad- 
vance your  growth  in  grace,  and  spirituality,  and  scriptural 
knowledge,  which  I  have  found  most  useful.  I  spend  at 
least  half-an-hour,  and  if  possible  one  hour  verT/  early,  and 
again  before  bed-time,  in  reading,  meditation,  and  prayer. 
This  has  a  remarkable  effect  in  keeping  one  in  that  calm, 
proper,  peaceful,  cheerful  frame  of  mind  (and  this  precious 
jewel  one  is  always  in  danger  of  losing,  especially  in  India) 
we  so  much  require,  to  fit  us  for  the  great  work  we  have  to 
do,  and  it  imparts  grace  and  feeling,  helping  us  to  act  and 
speak  as  we  should  do  at  all  hours.  I  have  often  regretted 
my  own  remissness  in  this  respect  in  earlier  years,  for  it  is 
only  private  intercourse  with  God  that  can  feed  the  soul ; 
and  when  we  neglect  it,  we  are  empty  and  starving,  as  the 
body  is  when  deprived  of  its  proper  meal.  And  what  is 
worse,  sin,  selfishness,  and  other  passions,  gain  the  upper 
hand,  and  we  lose  the  very  life  of  true  religion.  He  is  likely 
to  do  best  as  a  missionary  who  feeds  his  own  soul  well  with 
the  bread  and  water  of  life,  and  as  regularly  as  the  poor, 
mortal  body  is  fed.  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  again. 
Give  me  some  of  your  impressions  with  regard  to  mission 


470         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

work,  etc.  It  is  very  useful  to  open  the  heart  to  a  friend  on 
these  important  topics. — Your  affectionate  brother, 

"J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

In  the  reply  which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  received  from  Mr. 
Stern,  there  is  the  following  paragraph  : 

"My  Dear  Brother  Weitbrecht:  Thank  you  most 
heartily  for  your  very  kind  and  brotherly  letter.  *****  J 
have  already  discovered  that  a  missionary  can  not  set  forth 
Christ  continually  to  an  idolatrous  people,  in  a  lively  and 
winning  way,  so  as  to  make  them  feel,  unless  he  feels  him- 
self. One  morning,  when  I  was  at  Calcutta,  the  bishop,  when 
praying  for  us,  said,  '  Lord,  preserve  us  from  becoming  dry 
sticks.'  May  that  prayer  be  answered,  according  to  His 
faithfulness  !" 

"  At  six  P.M.  on  the  17th,"  Mr.  W.  writes,  "  the  gun  an- 
nounced the  steamer,  and  a  large  party  of  us,  who  had  been 
waiting  six  hours  on  the  river-side,  in  anxious  expectation, 
(the  vessel  having  been  detained  at  Diamond  harbor  by  a 
fog,)  had  to  make  our  way  on  board  in  little  dinghy s,  by  the 
uncertain  light  of  lanterns,  for  it  was  quite  dark.  The  scene 
was  really  amusing,  even  to  me,  though  I  was  one  of  the 
actors  in  it.  Husbands  were  looking  for  their  wives,  parents 
for  their  children,  and  lovers  for  their  brides,  with  intense 
eagerness.  The  confusion  was  indescribable.  It  was  a  per- 
fect scramble,  and  I  regarded  it  as  a  peculiar  mercy,  that  no 
accident  happened."  His  deep  and  thankful  joy  on  his  re- 
union with  the  objects  of  his  earthly  attachment,  may  not 
and  can  not  be  described.  It  seemed  to  him  like  a  foretaste 
of  the  reiinion  of  the  spirits  of  the  blessed  in  glory,  and 
who  shall  say  that  it  was  not  ?  Frequently  did  he  exclaim 
in  the  fullness  of  his  heart,"  "  Oh  !  how  happy  I  am  !  I  hope 
all  my  friends  are  as  happy  as  myself,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
their  treasures."    "  You  may  imagine,"  said  he,  in  writing 


REUNION. 


471 


to  a  friend,  "  the  joy  and  gratitude  I  felt  when  I  welcomed 
my  beloved  wife  once  more  on  Indian  soil,  with  the  sweet 
little  boy,  who  by  his  happy  and  winning  manner  is  daily 
cheering  the  heart  of  his  papa." 

During  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  stay  at  Calcutta,  he  spoke  with 
his  usual  animation,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Calcutta 
Tract  Society.  This  was  his  last  appearance  at  a  public 
meeting.  He  records  having  heard  the  dear  bishop  preach 
on  Christmas-day,  and  his  visit  afterwards  to  Tallygunge  to 
see  the  residence  chosen  for  his  young  friends,  the  Misses 
Suter,  who  had  come  to  India,  in  company  with  Mrs.  Weit- 
brecht,  to  commence  a  normal  school,  and  in  whom  he  was 
deeply  interested.  He  afterwards  spent  a  few  days  with 
them  at  the  house  of  a  mutual  friend,  and  aided  them  by  his 
counsel  and  his  prayers.  On  the  last  Sabbath  of  the  year 
he  preached  for  Mr.  Hutton  at  Dum  Dum,  from  Heb. 
11  :  24-26,  "The  choice  of  Moses."  The  last  paragraph 
of  the  sermon  is  strikingly  suitable  in  reference  to  his 
own  approaching  dissolution : 

"Ah!  brethren,  when  we  shall  reach  the  point  which 
Moses  did  at  last— when  we  shall  look  back  from  Pisgah's 
top  on  the  scenes  of  life — on  the  journey  we  have  finished, 
how  shall  we  then  view  what  many  of  us  now  prize  so  highly  1 
How  trifling  will  then  appear  to  us  those  treasures  of  Egypt, 
which  now  engage  all  the  care  and  all  the  affections  of  many ! 
Then  it  will  be  seen  and  felt,  that  to  have  Moses'  portion 
was  the  wisest  choice  ;  and  that  to  have  the  certain  pros- 
pect of  a  reward  in  heaven  is  the  most  desirable  and  satis- 
factory possession.  God  grant  that  this  may  then  be  our 
portion  and  our  inheritance." 

As  we  have  now  completed  the  history  of  the  last  year  of 
Mr.  Weitbrecht's  life  and  labors,  we  will  here  introduce  a 
sketch  of  his  style  of  preachmg,  from  the  pen  of  one  well 


472         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

able  to  depict  it,  the  Rev.  J.  Bloomfield,  chaplain  to  the 
Bishop  of  Calcutta : 

"  Solid  and  devotional,  chaste  in  style,  yet  full  of  pointed 
thrusts  at  the  conscience,  and  glowing  exhortations,  sweeten- 
ed throughout  by  the  savor  of  Christ,  and  enriched  by  the 
unction  of  His  Spirit,  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  sermons  are  well 
adapted  for  impressive  and  edifying  reading,  either  in  the 
chamber  or  the  church.  He  was  one  of  those  preachers, 
the  natural  quite  as  much  as  the  cultivated  refinement  of 
whose  minds  gives  a  peculiar  charm  to  their  simplest  expo- 
sitions and  appeals.  Alike  removed  from  display  of  scholar- 
ship and  affectation  of  simplicity,  his  sermons  are  so  beau- 
tifully natural,  so  full  at  times  even  of  unconscious  genius, 
so  gentle,  so  elegant,  that  they  secure  on  their  side  the 
scholar's  taste,  while  they  speak  to  all  with  such  plainness 
of  Gospel  truth  as  to  win  universal  conviction,  even  when 
the  truthfulness  of  the  preacher's  message  remains  unac- 
knowledged. They  do  not  condescend,  yet  are  unmistaka- 
bly easy ;  they  attempt  no  flights,  yet  the  impression  they 
leave  is  solemn  and  elevating.  Such  is  eminently  the  bear- 
ing of  his  discourses.  Such  was  indeed  his  own  bearing. 
Had  he  been  a  low-conditioned  Christian,  instead  of  an  emi- 
nent saint,  walking  closely  and  consistently  with  God  in  the 
light  of  His  countenance,  we  can  not  believe  he  would  have 
been  otherwise  than  a  lovely  character,  and  a  very  pleasant 
friend.  But  it  was  the  grace  of  Christ,  sought  and  carefully 
guarded,  in  communion  with  God,  which  was  the  moving 
spring  of  his  life,  as  well  as  its  sanctifying  influence ;  and 
herein,  unquestionably,  lies  the  charm  of  his  sermons,  they 
breathe  the  spirit  of  a  holy,  humble,  devoted  man  of  God. 
His  tact  in  detecting,  picturing  out,  and  applying  without 
any  unnatural  twist,  the  proper  scope  of  his  texts ;  the  prac- 
tical character  of  his  preaching ;  his  habit  of  applying  his  sub- 


THE  LAST  NEW  YEAr's-DAY. 


473 


ject  as  he  goes  on,  are  all  worthy  of  notice  ;  but  his  discrim- 
ination between  characters  forms  one  of  the  most  striking 
excellencies  of  his  discourses.  He  discerns  between  the 
precious  and  the  vile,  and  so  is  as  God's  mouth.  The  pecu- 
liarly missionary  character  of  his  preaching  also  deserves 
special  notice." 

"  January  1,  1852. — May  this  be  a  year  of  grace  and 
mercy  to  us,  our  dear  absent  children,  and  our  mission," 
writes  Mr.  Weitbrecht  on  New  Year's  day,  1852.  "  Oh  ! 
that  the  Spirit  may  be  poured  out  on  us  abundantly  !" 

The  journal  goes  on  to  record  various  engagements,  and 
the  arrival  and  departure  of  numerous  visitors.  It  was  re- 
markable, that  several  of  his  oldest  friends  passed  Burdwan, 
during  this  and  the  following  month,  and  thus  had  one  more 
opportunity  of  seeing  him.  Some  of  these  were  finally  leav- 
ing India,  and  he  remarks  :  "  One  dear  friend  after  another 
passes  away,  either  by  death  or  retirement.  Our  time  will 
come  too  at  length." 

As  soon  as  he  had  arranged  matters  at  home,  he  again  set 
forth  on  his  tours.  His  journal  is  full  of  interesting  inci- 
dents, and  devout  prayers  for  the  blessing  from  on  high.  In 
one  place  he  says :  "  I  saw  several  little  monuments,  in  shape 
like  Shiva  temples,  but  much  smaller.  On  inquiry,  I  was 
told  that  Sutis  had  been  performed  on  these  spots ;  horrible 
memorials  of  what  the  Hindus  call  faithful  wives  having 
been  burned  on  the  dead  bodies  of  their  husbands.  Thank 
God,"  he  adds,  "  this  diabolical  rite  is  now  abolished  ;  and 
here,  as  in  most  other  places  I  have  lately  visited,  the  evil, 
uselessness,  and  wickedness  of  idol-worship,  is  admitted  by 
most  people.  An  old  shopkeeper,  with  a  readiness  most 
uncommon,  called  his  neighbors  together  saying,  '  Come, 
hear  a  word  about  Jesus  Christ ;'  and  then  he  told  me,  '  I 
heard  you  some  years  ago,  and  I  like  your  preaching.'  " 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  often  wished  that  it  might  be  possible  to 


174  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

adopt  the  plan  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren,  which 
being  Episcopal  in  its  government,  and  singularly  missionary 
in  its  character,  affords  a  valuable  model  for  Episcopal  mis- 
sions in  general. 

The  reader  may  be  aware  that  in  the  Moravian  missions, 
a  bishop  accompanies  and  presides  over  every  compact  body 
of  missionaries.  He  is  an  elder  brother,  of  a  wise,  discrim- 
inating spirit,  and  lives  with  and  for  the  missionaries  and 
their  converts,  being  merely  raised  above  them  by  his  piety 
and  the  weight  of  his  character.  If  such  missionary  bishops 
were  set  apart  for  the  missions  of  our  church,  the  difficulty 
now  felt  with  regard  to  the  ordination  of  catechists  would  no 
longer  exist.  Perhaps  a  few  years  more  may  see  such  a 
desirable  arrangement  consummated.  The  duties  of  the  de- 
voted Metropolitan  of  India,  and  the  vastness  of  his  diocese, 
render  it  impossible  that  he  should  be  able  to  perform  all 
the  minute  duties,  which  would  devolve  on  an  exclusively 
missionary  bishop. 

Here  is  an  anecdote  of  a  blind  idolater :  "  An  old  man  of 
sixty-five  passed  us,  who  had  been  fifteen  years  blind. 
Thomas  read  the  story  of  blind  Bartimeus,  and  I  showed 
the  poor  fellow  how  all  idolaters  are  spiritually  blind,  and 
how  Jesus  alone  can  restore  their  sight.  He  was  all  ear, 
and  was  quite  distressed  when  some  rude  boys  prevented 
his  catching  every  sentence.  The  spirit  of  the  people  in  gen- 
eral was  most  pleasing,  and  they  said,  '  If  you  come  often  to 
tell  us  these  things,  it  will  do  us  good.'  The  Word  of  God 
seemed  to  find  an  open  entrance.  When  I  quoted  the  words, 
'Beware  of  false  prophets,'  they  were  acknowledged  to 
apply  most  faithfully  to  the  Brahmuns;  and  the  people 
helped  me  to  illustrate  their  appearing  in  sheep's  clothing, 
relating  instances  of  their  wolfish  nature,  their  smooth 
speech  yet  boundless  avarice.  When  I  asked  an  old  man 
who  was  preparing  for  Surswati's  festival,  why  they  wor- 


MUSSULMANS  ANXIOUS  FOR  THE  GOSPEL. 


475 


shipped  her,  and  if  he  thought  she  could  really  impart  wis- 
dom to  them  ? — he  replied,  '  Oh !  no  ;  how  is  that  possible  1 
The  fact  is,  we  invite  our  friends  to  a  social  dinner  on  this 
occasion.'  A  sensible  answer  from  an  old  man.  In  another 
place  my  audience,  though  not  large,  was  so  remarkably 
attentive,  and  the  people  manifested  such  a  kind  disposition, 
that  any  new-comer  would  at  once  say,  *  They  can  not  be 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God.'  When  preaching  under  a 
fine  tamarind  tree  at  Maundpore,  simply  about  Christ  the 
Saviour  of  sinners,  I  had  such  a  blessed  meeting.  My  con- 
gregation consisted  of  respectable  little  farmers.  '  We  be- 
lieve every  word,'  said  one  man ;  '  it  is  as  if  you  had  spoken 
from  my  heart.  We  want  One  to  save  us  who  is  almighty 
and  kind.  Could  you  not  tell  us  for  six  days  the  same 
truth  V  A  poor  man,  pale  from  recent  fever,  and  another 
suffering  from  rheumatism,  were  particularly  impressed. 
Oh !  that  a  real  opening  were  made  of  God,  in  these  parts ! 
I  felt  much  cheered  by  the  simplicity  of  these  people,  and  I 
am  more  and  more  convinced,  that  among  such  the  Gospel 
will  gain  a  fuller  entrance,  than  with  the  grand  Babus,  or 
the  low  rabble  of  the  bazaar  in  towns. 

"  Many  along  this  tract  are  well  acquainted  with  our  books 
and  religion,  which  arises  from  our  weekly  preaching  and 
distribution  of  tracts  at  Kunchinuger,  (a  large  town  near 
Burdwan.)  After  four  p.m.,  I  had  a  numerous  and  respecta- 
ble congregation  at  Purangram,  consisting  of  Hindus  and 
Mussulman  farmers.  As  to  idol  worship,  all  agreed  it  was 
a  curse.  O  Lord !  prepare  a  way  for  Thyself  The  state 
of  things  among  these  people  fills  me  with  hope.  It  is  so 
difierent  to  what  it  was  in  former  years.  As  I  left  this  place 
several  Mussulman  farmers  entreated  me  to  preach  to  them 
also,  saying,  '  We,  too,  are  desirous  to  hear  the  Gospel.'  I 
promised  to  do  so  on  my  return,  for  there  was  an  earnest- 
ness about  these  simple  people  which  convinced  me,  at  once, 


476         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


of  their  sincerity.  I  afterwards  preached  before  the  moon 
siff 's  court,  and  his  amlahs  listened.  The  Lord  was  with 
me,  and  when  I  had  finished,  the  moonsifF  came  out  and  re- 
ceived me  courteously,  saying,  *  He  felt  a  deep  interest  in 
our  labors,  and  was  persuaded  Christianity  was  the  true  re- 
ligion.' He  sent  me  a  large  dinner  the  following  day,  and 
listened  to  my  discourse  afterwards  with  deep  attention." 

A  letter,  written  on  his  tour  to  a  lady  who  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  Burdwan  Orphan  School,  contains  some  valu- 
able information ; 

"  GoLAPORE,  Burdwan  District,  Jan.  31,  1852. 
"  *  *  *  *  I  was  particularly  delighted  to  hear  that  you,  my 
dear  Christian  friend,  have  engaged  with  others  to  patronize 
our  orphan  girls'  school.  May  you  receive  a  gracious  reward 
now  already,  while  thus  coming  to  our  help,  in  the  rich  en- 
joyment of  the  promises  which  Christ  has  made  to  those, 
who  desire  to  give  their  substance  and  themselves  to  His 
service.  The  place  from  which  I  am  sending  these  lines  is 
an  interesting  spot,  at  the  outskirts  of  a  large  Hindu  village. 
My  little  tent  is  pitched  under  some  shady  trees,  and  my 
Christian  cook  having  become  sick,  I  am  just  now  alternately 
engaged  in  writing  and  looking  after  my  kitchen  affairs. 
This  is  an  exceedingly  simple  business.  A  little  hole  is  dug 
at  the  root  of  a  tree  for  the  fire.  Potatoes  are  boiling  in 
one  vessel,  and  my  wife  having  sent  me  a  beefsteak,  a  rare 
treat  in  these  parts,  I  am  trying  my  skill  to  dress  it  as  well 
as  I  can.  Then  she  has  also  provided  me  with  a  piece  of 
plum-pudding,  which  I  am  going  to  fry  in  slices ;  so  I  am 
*  faring  quite  sumptuously !  My  little  tent  is  just  large 
enough  to  contain  a  table,  a  camp-bed,  and  my  palanquin^ 
which  on  these  occasions  serves  as  a  cupboard.  I  have  just 
had  a  visitor,  the  moonsifF,  a  native  officer  under  govern 
ment  at  this  place.    He  admired  my  canteen  exceedingly 


MUSSULMAN  FARMERS.  477 

containing  dishes,  plates,  cups,  etc.,  every  thing  wanted  for 
camp  life.  One  part  of  his  speech  I  must  repeat,  for  it 
shows  that  many  natives  of  the  higher  ranks  are  well  inclin- 
ed towards  Christianity.  He  said :  '  I  like  to  sit  and  speak 
with  you,  sir ;  for  you  are  a  heavenly  being,  and  I  am  a 
hellish  being.  1  know  that  your  religion  is  the  only  true 
religion  in  heaven  and  earth.  I  intend  to  become  a  Christ- 
ian, as  soon  as  Queen  Victoria  issues  a  manifesto,  that  native 
gentlemen  shall  have  equal  rights  in  society  with  English 
gentlemen.'  I  had  a  long  conversation  with  this  Babu,  and 
I  hope  he  has  now  somewhat  clearer  perceptions  of  the  spirit 
of  our  holy  religion.  But  it  convinced  me  afresh,  that  the 
pride  of  the  carnal  mind  is  the  main  obstacle  to  the  progress 
of  divine  truth  here  among  the  Hindus,  as  much  as  among 
the  great  and  rich  ones  in  Christendom.  On  the  whole,  I 
have  been  very  much  encouraged  this  week,  while  preaching 
in  the  villages,  by  the  pleasing  disposition  of  many  Hindus. 
In  several  instances  people  regret  when  I  leave  them,  and 
beg  that  I  would  soon  visit  them  again.  A  few  days  ago, 
some  Mussulman  farmers  stood  on  the  road-side,  asking  me, 
*  Sir,  will  you  not  preach  to  us  likewise  ?  We  desire  to 
hear  as  well  as  the  Hindus.'  Yesterday  a  respectable  man, 
in  the  presence  of  a  large  assemblage,  put  the  question  to 
me  which  has  often  engaged  my  own  serious  and  prayerful 
eonsideration — '  What  is  the  reason  so  few  people  in  this 
country  have  as  yet  embraced  your  religion  ?  I  know  you 
have  been  preaching  for  many  years,  in  many  places,  and 
yet  it  has  not  taken  deep  root ;  few  people  of  respectability 
have  been  converted.'  I  said,  'You  all  know  the  reason  why 
the  farmers  have  had  no  harvest  this  year.  It  was  from 
want  of  rain.'  '  But,'  continued  he,  '  it  may  reasonably  be 
supposed,  that  when  the  Founder  of  Christianity  commands 
His  servants  to  preach  the  Gospel,  He  will  give  them  suc- 
cess.'   'True,'  said  I,  'and  so  He  has  done  ;'  upon  which  I 


478  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

alluded  to  some  very  remarkable  missionary  statistics  pre- 
pared lately  from  authentic  sources,  which  show  the  gratifying 
fact,  that  there  are  above  one  hundred  thousand  converts  in 
connection  with  the  Protestant  Mission  in  India.*  Still  the 
man  continued  pressing  me  to  tell  my  honest  opinion,  why 
our  efforts  have  not  met  with  greater  success.  I  replied, 
'  As  you  are  so  anxious  to  know  it,  I  will  tell  you,  but  you 
must  not  be  offended.  The  soil  on  which  we  labor  is  very 
hard.  You  are  aware  there  are  three  classes  of  society  in 
this  country.  The  first  is  the  Brahmun  of  the  old  school, 
haughty,  repulsive,  and  tyrannical  in  disposition.  These 
men  pretend  to  divine  origin,  but  act  the  part  of  ministers 
of  Satan,  holding  the  people  in  a  state  of  mental  bondage, 
and  by  some  religious  pretense  or  other  rob  them  of  their 
little  earnings.  Under  the  garb  of  religion  they  destroy  all 
that  is  good  and  noble  in  many,  and  are  a  curse  to  the  coun- 
try. The  second  class  are  the  gentry  and  rich  people,  land- 
holders, merchants,  etc.,  whose  selfishness,  want  of  principle, 
and  animal  propensities  are  well  known.  Their  motto  is, 
'  Let  us  eat,  drink,'  etc.  Their  God  is  their  belly  ;  and  they 
seem  to  feel  no  higher  wants.  They  scorn  to  hear  of  the 
religion  of  Jesus,  which  demands  repentance,  humility,  and 
self-denial,  as  the  very  first  requisite  from  those  who  desire 
to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  A  very  great  man  of  this 
description  told  me  lately,  'I  would  much  rather  cut  off  my 
head,  than  allow  a  sermon  to  be  preached  at  my  house  con- 
cerning Jesus  Christ.'  The  third  class  are  the  mass  of  the 
people — low,  debased,  ignorant,  in  the  deepest  degree  super- 
stitious, because  the  Brahmuns  have  made  them  so,  and 
given  them  idols  of  wood  and  stone,  instead  of  teaching  them 
to  worship  an  almighty  gracious  Father,  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
They  are  so  deeply  sunk  in  the  mire  of  ignorance  and  vice, 
too,  that  years  will  be  required  yet  to  lift  them  out ;  and 


*  Mullen's  Pamphlet. 


WHY  ARE  MISSIONS  NOT  MORE  SUCCESSFUL  ?  470 

yet  there  are  hundreds  of  these  would  be  ready,  after  hear- 
ing the  Gospel,  to  become  believers  in  Christ,  were  it  not 
for  the  Brahmuns  who  frighten  them,  and  threaten  with  loss 
of  house  and  honor,  friends  and  home,  with  curse  and  dam- 
nation, those  who  show  a  disposition  to  embrace  the  pure 
religion  ef  Christ.  Is  it  surprising,  then,  that  hitherto  we 
have  met  with  comparatively  little  success?'  Upon  this  my 
inquirer  covered  his  face  with  both  his  hands.  I  believe  it 
was  from  some  honest  feeling  of  shame,  and  he  said,  '  You 
have,  indeed,  spoken  the  truth,  and  you  have  given  a  cor- 
rect statement  of  our  people.'  I  continued,  '  Consider  the 
paucity  of  missionaries;  we  are  two  atBurdwan,  and  you  are 
three  millions  in  this  and  the  district  of  Bancoorah.  But  I 
am  persuaded,  that  God's  eternal  truth  is  progressing  in  this 
land  of  idolatry ;  and  when  it  prevails  at  last,  and  Jesus 
shall  take  the  government  into  His  own  hands,  it  will  be  a 
victory  such  as  the  world  has  seldom  if  ever  witnessed ;  and 
then  it  will  be  seen,  from  the  retrospect,  that  the  efforts  of 
societies  engaged,  and  of  the  laborers  who  fell  on  the  field 
of  battle,  are  most  amply  and  gloriously  rewarded ;  for 
India  is  the  grandest  missionary  field  in  the  world,  and  will 
present  a  splendid  scene,  when  her  children  are  once  bowing 
their  knees  before  Jehovah  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  Time  fails  me  to  give  you,  dear  friend,  a  sketch  of  the 
present  state  of  our  orphan  schools.  I  have  no  doubt  my 
dear  wife  will  do  so  ere  long ;  but  I  believe  you  and  other 
dear  friends  will  rejoice  to  hear,  that  there  is  a  probability 
that  they  will  be  replenished  with  little  orphans  this  year, 
more  than  ever. 

"  The  new-comers  are  very  young  indeed.  I  think  since 
Mrs.  W.'s  return,  we  have  had  an  accession  of  seven  or  eight. 
May  these  little  boarders  become  real  living  members  of 
Christ's  church !  Amen. 

"  With  sincerest  Christian  regards,  and  begging  for  a  con- 


480         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

tinued  interest  in  your  prayers,  I  am,  my  dear  madam, 
yours  very  truly  in  Christ,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  two  letters  which  follow  were  also  written  while  Mr. 
W.  was  out  on  his  last  itinerancy  : 

To  Rev.  A.  M.  W.  Christopher. 

"  Naranpore,  Feb.  2,  1852.  ' 

"  My  Dear  Friend  :  I  have  received  several  kind  and 
affectionate  remembrances  from  you.  Such  assurances  are 
very  acceptable  and  refreshing,  when  sent  by  those  whom 
we  love  and  esteem,  and  I  need  hardly  tell  you  such  are  my 
feelings  towards  you,  from  the  first  time  I  saw  you  in  the 
library  of  La  Martiniere.  How  much  have  we  both  expe- 
rienced, since  that  day,  of  the  goodness  and  loving-kindness 
of  the  Lord !  Well  may  we  speak  of  it  to  others,  and  de- 
vote the  souls  He  has  redeemed,  and  the  gifts  He  has 
vouchsafed  to  us,  to  His  service. 

"  You  have  been  very  kind  to  my  dear  boy  in  Christ's 
Hospital,  and  I  feel  truly  grateful  to  you  for  it ;  it  is  a  cup 
of  cold  water  given  in  a  prophet's  name,  and  it  will  not  go 
unrewarded.  I  am  writing  these  lines  twenty-five  miles 
westward  from  Burdwan ;  how  you  would  enjoy  the  scenery 
around  the  spot  where  my  tent  is  pitched !  The  Damudah 
river  in  front ;  on  the  right  a  pasture-ground,  well  wooded 
with  fine  old  trees ;  on  the  left  the  tout  ensemble  of  a  Hindu 
village,  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  cottages  peeping  out 
from  between  the  foliage  of  mango,  tamarind,  bamboo, 
and  other  trees.  A  large  Vishnu  temple  towers  above  the 
humble  dwellings ;  and  the  talukdar's  pucka  house,  and  lit- 
tle indigo  factory  stand  in  the  foreground.  The  gomasta,  or 
factotum  of  the  Babu,  with  some  fifty  natives  and  boys,  are 
standing  and  chattering  before  my  tent,  and  the  officious 


ITINERATING. 


481 


man,  on  my  arrival  here  this  morning,  at  once  began  recom- 
mending me  to  set  up  an  indigo  factory,  as  likely  to  prove 
a  very  profitable  speculation.  I  told  him  he  mistook  my 
calling  altogether ;  that  I  was  engaged  in  a  far  more  valu- 
able profession,  that  I  was  the  ambassador  of  a  great  King, 
whose  name  was  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  I  had  come  to  Na- 
ranpore,  to  beg  the  people  to  become  His  happy  subjects. 
The  gomasta,  like  Nicodemus  of  old,  did  not  understand 
these  things;  and  he  said:  'While  we  are  in  this  world,  we 
must  care  for  the  tilings  of  it ;  it  is  a  very  pleasant  thing  to 
realize  a  good  fortune,  and  quite  time  enough  to  make  a 
proper  preparation  for  heaven,  when  we  arrive  at  the  gates 
of  it.'  Such  is  the  carnal  judgment  of  money-making  men 
in  Bengal,  and  in  this  view  they  are  not,  perhaps,  very  un- 
like to  some  of  thoir  brethren  in  England.  Human  nature, 
in  its  real  aspect,  is  the  same  everywhere  ;  '  that  which  is 
born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh.'  So  I  try  to  do  as  the  prophet 
Isaiah  did,  proclaim  to  them  '  all  flesh  is  as  grass,'  etc. 

"  The  middling  classes  of  farmers  are  in  a  very  pleasing 
state.  I  believe  they  would  come  forward  by  thousands,  if 
it  were  not  for  the  Brahmuns ;  but  the  Lord  is  stronger 
than  all  these  haughty,  avaricious  ministers  of  Satan,  and  the 
time  will  come,  when  their  dark  power  and  influence  over 
the  minds  of  these  poor  people  will  vanish  like  smoke. 
Last  Friday  morning  a  farmer  came  and  said,  he  could  not 
sleep  all  night;  the  words  I  had  preached  from  the  pre- 
vious evening  were  ever  in  his  thoughts,  and  he  wished  to 
become  a  believer  in  Christ.  This  man  received  a  tract 
from  me  four  months  ago  in  the  bazaar,  when  I  preached 
near  Burdwan,  called  the  '  True  Refuge,'  (which  has  been 
blessed  to  the  conversion  of  many,)  and  so  attentively  had 
he  read  it  that  he  could  repeat  to  me  the  substance  of  it 
quite  correctly.  I  do  feel  more  strongly  every  month  that 
itinerating  is  the  great^  the  chief  work  of  the  missionary. 
21 


482  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

We  have  not  done  enough  in  this  principal  branch :  it  is  a 
rough  and  self-denying  life,  but  I  doubt  not  will  produce 
eventually  the  most  satisfactory  results.  Our  Committee 
in  London  have  sanctioned  my  giving  my  whole  time  to  it, 
but  they  must  send  us  more  missionaries.  Try,  dear  friend, 
to  get  us  some.  You  are  so  many,  we  are  so  few.  Two 
men  here  for  two  millions  of  heathens!  nay,  three,  if  I  in- 
clude West-Burdwan  or  Bancoorah,  which  is  also  in  my 
charge. 

*'  Good  bye,  my  dear  and  esteemed  friend  and  brother 
May  the  Lord  give  you  much  grace  and  irapprjaia  to  preach 
His  eternal  truth  fully,  faithfully,  and  successfully.  Ora 
2)ro  nobis^  say  the  Papists  erroneously  to  the  Virgin  Mary  ; 
we  can  use  the  words  to  better  purpose. 

"  Yours  with  affection,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

Oh !  that  the  above  simple  words  might  sink  into  the  hearts 
of  many  a  young  and  zealous  Christian  student,  and  cause 
him  to  respond,  "  Here  am  I,  send  me !" 

"  Naranpore,  February/  3,  1852. 
"My  Dear  and  Esteemed  Friend:  I  am  determined, 
though  from  home,  to  gladden  your  heart  by  a  letter.  Of 
one  thing  I  can  assure  you,  you  are  often  remembered  by 
me.  When  I  open  my  beautiful  little  Polyglot,  which  is 
my  companion  on  these  preaching-tours,  behold  there  is 
dear  Miss  C.  before  my  mental  vision ;  and  lest  I  should 
lose  sight  of  you  on  the  best  day  out  of  seven,  you  have 
kindly  added  another  valuable  token  of  remembrance ;  in 
fact,  you  have  set  me  up  for  my  sacred  office  in  as  complete 
a  manner  as  possible.  With  the  Bible  in  my  hand,  and  a 
gown  on  my  back,  I  am  ready  to  go  forth  to  my  Master's 
work  ;  and  if  I  do  not  look  out  diligently  for  the  spiritual 
blessings,  which  you  certainly  desire  and  pray  may  accom- 
pany the  visible  testimony  of  the  Word,  it  is  my  own  fault. 


PLANS  FOR  LABOR. 


483 


O  dear  friend !  it  is  my  humble  prayer  daily,  that  I  may 
be  clothed  with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  and  that  in  my 
ministry,  I  may  receive  wisdom  and  grace  to  preach,  in  the 
full  demonstration  of  the  Spirit.  I  believe  I  feel  the  im- 
portance of  these  gifts  and  graces  more  every  year ;  for  it  is 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  the  Word  of  His  testi- 
mony alone,  that  we  overcome,  and  are  likely  to  conquer 
this  heathen  land  for  Him.  You  can,  I  know,  feel  with  me 
in  my  happiness  in  having  my  dear  wife  again  with  me,  to 
share  in  my  labors  and  in  making  known  the  blessings  of 
the  Gospel.  My  lovely  boy  smiled  as  soon  as  he  saw  his 
papa  the  first  time.  I  am  trying  to  make  the  best  of  the 
season  while  it  is  cool.  I.  wish  you  could  see  how  I  am  sit- 
uated just  now  in  my  little  tent.  It  is  pitched  before  a  vil- 
lage which  no  missionary  has  ever  trod  before.  I  have 
sketched  out  this  district  into  subdivisions,  of  twenty-five 
miles  in  length  by  ten  in  breadth,  and  thus  I  hope  to  carry 
divine  truth  into  every  village  sixty  miles  round  Burdwan. 
Our  good  friends  at  home  seem  disappointed,  because  our 
success  is  so  limited.  They  do  not  take  into  account  all  the 
ditches  and  strongholds  we  have  to  surmount,  and  the  popu- 
lation is  so  immense.  Let  us  daily  pray  that  we  may  be 
found  faithful.  What  can  be  sweeter  than  our  Master's  ap- 
probation! What  more  cheering  and  delightful  than  the 
certain  prospect  of  being  with  Christ,  when  our  course  is 
run,  and  our  last  enemy  conquered !  I  give  you  for  your 
encouragement  1  John  3  :  1,  2.— Your  truly  grateful  and 
aflfectionate  friend  *  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

*  It  may  be  ri^t  to  mention,  that  the  foregoing  letter  is  only  a  part 
of  the  original,  and  this  remark  applies  to  almost  every  letter  in  the 
volume.  Only  those  portions  of  letters  have  been  retained  which  car- 
ried on  the  narrative,  or  which  brought  out  some  point  of  importance, 
or  some  trait  of  character.  . 


484  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Becomes  Unwell,  and  returns  Home  from  the  Villages  for  the  Last  Time 
— Prepares  for  Conference — Goes  to  Calcutta — Engagements  of  the 
Last  "Week — ^Preaches  his  Last  Sermon — Illness — Death — Funeral — 
Letters  from  Friends — Testimonials — Description  of  his  Person.  ^ 

1852. 

In  the  beginning  of  February,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  came  in 
for  a  day  or  two ;  preached  for  a  Sunday  at  Burdwan,  and 
received  some  dear  friends ;  but  returned  again  immediately 
to  the  villages.  His  wife  more  than  once  told  him,  that  she 
feared  he  was  laboring  far  beyond  his  strength,  and  would 
never  be  equal  to  carrying  out  his  plan,  at  least  without 
first  taking  a  change  to  recruit  his  powers.  He  complained 
much  of  weariness,  and  of  not  being  refreshed  by  sleep;  and 
with  the  approach  of  the  hot  season,  these  symptoms  strength- 
ened, so  that  he  did  not  feel  it  prudent  to  remain  out  many 
days  longer,  especially  when  he  was  again  reminded  of  the 
approach  of  cholera,  in  his  tent.  His  last  entry  in  his  jour- 
nal is  :  "I  awoke  in  a  profuse  perspiration,  with  pain,  and 
cold  exti'emities.  I  addressed  the  people,  for  it  was  a  large 
place,  with  some  eight  thousand  inhabitants,  but  feeling  quite 
poorly,  I  resolved  to  return  home,  and  was  very  glad  to  find 
myself  there." 

From  that  time  he  was  very  busy  with  his  head-catechist, 


LETTER  TO  S.  MARTIN,  ESQ. 


485 


Nodiachand,  reading  over  the  sermons  and  expositions  of  the 
catechists  belonging  to  the  various  missions,  of  which  he  had 
a  large  number,  about  seventy,  sent  to  him  to  examine,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  able  to  pass  a  faithful  judgment  upon 
them,  at  the  approaching  conference. 

During  these  few  happy  days  of  reunion  and  intercourse 
with  his  beloved  family,  none  could  fail  to  remark  his  extreme 
heavenly-mindedness.  He  always  gave  an  exposition  at  the 
family  devotions,  and  both  this  and  his  prayers  after  it  were 
full  of  heaven;  and  he  continually  referred  to  Christ's  second 
coming,  in  his  conversation  with  his  friends.  His  mind  was 
so  absorbed  in  this  deeply  interesting  subject,  that  it  gave  a 
tinge  to  all  he  said,  and  his  heart  was  so  intent  upon  his 
sacred  engagements,  that  he  was  jealous  of  being  prevented 
from  speaking.  Once  or  twice,  when  he  appeared  very 
tired,  and  his  wife  begged  him  to  let  her  relieve  him,  by 
reading  for  him,  as  he  had  often  asked  her  to  do  in  times 
past,  he  always  replied  :  "  No,  I  am  quite  equal  to  it."  He 
also  prepared  his  sermon  for  the  approaching  conference, 
which  he  had  begun  in  his  tent,  and  he  wrote  a  long  letter  to 
a  Christian  friend  in  England,  containing  a  clear  statement 
of  his  views  on  a  very  important  point,  that  has  frequently 
been  agitated  among  different  individuals.  We  here  sub- 
join it : 

To  S.  Martin  Esq. 

''Feb.  5. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  :  Your  kind  donation,  with  your  letter  of 
October,  is  in  my  hands.  Accept  my  cordial  thanks.  I 
sometimes  wish  that  kind  donors  like  yourself,  who  so  liber- 
ally assist  us,  were  able  to  spend  a  Lord's  day  with  us  in 
this  mission,  and  -to  witness  our  native  Christian  flock  wor- 
shipping in  the  house  of  God.  I  am  sure  the  sight  would 
cheer  you. 

"  Last  week  we  took  in  several  babes  ;  our  native  Christ 


486         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

ian  females  nurse  them,  until  they  are  fit  for  reception  in 
our  orphan  school  as  boarders.  These  destitute  children  all 
receive  the  benefits  of  a  solid  Christian  education,  and  thus  a 
nucleus  for  Christian  congregations  is  formed,  with  satisfac- 
tory prospects  of  beneficial  results. 

"I  find  from  your  letter,  that  you  entertained  some  doubts 
as  to  the  judicious  appropriation  of  the  funds  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society.  You  are  not  the  first  who  has  expressed 
his  feelings  to  me  on  this  subject.  Of  one  thing  I  can  assure 
you,  I  believe  there  has  never  been  a  time,  when  the  direc- 
tors of  our  Society  exercised  so  close  and  careful  an  over- 
sight on  this  point,  as  is  done  at  present;  and,  so  far  as  I  can 
see,  they  appear,  as  a  body  of  Christian  men,  anxiously 
desirous  to  bring  their  means  to  bear  in  the  most  efiicient 
manner  towards  the  great  object  in  view.  Of  course,  opin- 
ions differ  as  to  the  manner  of  operation,  the  localities,  agen- 
cies to  be  employed,  etc.  With  the  best  intentions,  human 
weakness  intermingles  with  all  missionary  efforts ;  and  the 
more  public  and  extensive  the  operations,  the  more  evidently 
do  these  frailties  and  defects  manifest  themselves. 

"  Of  one  part  of  the  disbursements,  I  can,  however,  speak 
with  confidence.  I  firmly  believe  that  the  money  appro- 
priated for  the  maintenance  of  our  missions  in  Bengal,  for 
example,  for  salaries  of  missionaries,  catechists,  support  of 
schools,  is  husbanded  with  strict  economy. 

"I  am  not  surprised  at  the  information  you  have  received, 
from  those  who  were  residents  in  India,  as  to  the  operations 
of  the  Society  being  productive  of  little  or  no  good,  though 
I  do  not  exactly  agree  with  them.  Believe  me,  my  dear  sir, 
such  accounts,  coming  even  from  Christian  men,  should 
always  be  received  with  caution.  I  will  just  state  a  few 
reasons  for  saying  so.  We  have  seven  or  eight  stations  in 
North-India  between  Calcutta  and  Meerut,  a  distance  of  more 
than  eleven  hundred  miles.    Few  men  who  speak  of  mis- 


INDIA  AS  A  MISSION  FIELD.  487 

sions  have  seen  them,  and  generally  derive  the  little  they 
know  from  hearsay.  But  more  than  this :  I  have  seen,  dur- 
ing the  twenty-one  years  I  have  occupied  this  station,  good, 
Christian,  pious  men,  who  never  attempted  to  make  them- 
selves acquainted  with  our  congregations,  preaching  efforts, 
schools,  etc.  Perhaps  attendance  at  an  annual  examination 
was  all  they  saw  of  missions.  Besides  this,  our  English 
residents,  being  mostly  government  functionaries,  or  men  in 
business,  are  surrounded  by  influential  natives  day  after  day, 
almost  all  of  whom  are  naturally  prejudiced,  and  entertain 
hostile  feelings  to  mission  work.  It  is  wonderful  what  an 
effect  this  exercises  upon  most  men  ;  and,  in  some  measure, 
even  upon  most  good  men,  who  have  to  move  in  such  a 
heathenish  atmosphere.  Unfavorable  reports  are  listened 
to  ;  and,  almost  unconsciously,  prejudices  are  conceived  and 
strengthened  by  this  means. 

"  The  number  of  those  decided  men,  who  judge  and 
examine  for  themselves,  is  very  small  indeed.  In  fact,  it 
requires  a  spiritual  state  of  mind,  and  a  heart  which  is  filled 
in  some  measure  with  the  compassion  of  Jesus,  to  enable  a 
man  to  form  a  correct  and  unbiased  view  of  the  state  of 
missions  ;  and  how  few  possess  this  spirit  of  love  and  com- 
passion to  the  heathen ! 

"  I  am  an  old  missionary,  and  have  seen  a  good  deal  of 
our  missions  in  Bengal,  and  the  north-west  provinces.  I 
have  watched  their  progress  for  above  twenty-one  years, 
and  with  all  the  humbling  features  which  are  more  or  less 
prominent  everywhere,  I  feel  convinced  that  there  is  a 
gradual  but  steady  progress  in  ever^  mission,  both  in  con- 
versions, as  well  as  in  hopeful  prospects  of  more  extensive 
good  being  done. 

"  India,  as  a  mission-field,  has  peculiarities  entirely  differ- 
ing from  other  countries.  We  have  to  combat  a  tremendous 
system,  which  is  thousands  of  years  old.    We  encounter  a 


488  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WETTBRECHT. 

powerful  priesthood  at  every  step  of  our  progress,  who  have 
laid  the  mind  and  body  of  this  nation  completely  prostrate. 
When  the  Hindu  is  driven  out  of  his  system  of  gross  idola- 
try, as  thousands  are  at  the  present  day,  he  changes  his  deity, 
going  from  one  profligate  Kali  or  Krishna,  to  another  some- 
what less  polluted  ;  or  if  he  be  a  man  of  thought,  reading, 
and  reflection,  he  changes  his  religious  system  altogether, 
and  becomes  a  pantheist.  Such  a  course  in  his  case  has  more 
reason  in  it,  than  in  that  of  our  German  philosophers. 

"  We  move  between  two  elements — a  low,  ignorant,  deeply 
prostrate  population;  and  a  haughty,  selfish,  conceited,  sneer- 
ing priesthood.  Still  it  is  a  fact,  and  a  cheering  one,  that  the 
whole  fabric  is  gradually  giving  way ;  and  I  feel  persuaded, 
that  a  glorious  result  will  at  length  follow  the  labors  of  our 
brethren.  The  signs  of  the  times  are  unmistakable  on  this 
point.  I  assure  you  I  sometimes  experience  a  sort  of  ele- 
vated joy  when  I  look  forward,  thinking  that  perhaps  I  may 
yet  live  to  see  the  beginning  of  the  great  ingathering. 

"Pray,  dear  sir,  do  not  believe  those  who  say  that  nothing 
is  done  in  India.  I  would  ask  those  who  say  so,  how  would 
you  do  the  work?  Or  what  would  be  the  case  if  missionaries 
departed  from  this  grand  field  %  Surely,  the  judgments  of 
God  would  descend  on  England  ! 

"My  paper  is  full,  and  I  must  conclude;  but  I  would  add, 
that  if  you  prefer  to  see  your  contributions  appropriated 
direct^  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  receive  your  gifts.  I  am 
going  to  devote  myself  exclusively  to  preaching  among  the 
two  millions  of  Hindus  in  this  district,  and  a  young  mission- 
ary will  be  sent  to  relieve  me  of  school  and  station  duties. 
A  dear  old  friend  of  mine,  Mr.  Lacroix,  told  me  that  a  few 
friends  at  Geneva  defray  his  travelling  expenses,  during  his 
preaching-tours.  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  aid  us  and  our 
catechists  in  this  way.  I  should  be  delighted,  and  it  would 
open  a  communication  of  an  interesting  character,  as  I  should 


LAST  SERMON  AT  BURDWAN. 


489 


occasionally  be  able  to  send  you  extracts  of  my  proceedings. 
— With  kind  Christian  remembrance,  believe  me,  my  dear 
sir,  yours  very  truly,  J.  J.  Weitbrecht." 

The  concluding  paragraph  of  this  letter  is  a  fair  sample  of 
the  way  in  "which  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  wont  to  suggest  plans 
of  usefulness  to  his  correspondents,  and  he  was  generally 
successful  in  drawing  out  the  resources  and  sympathies  of 
those  to  whom  he  so  appealed. 

Towards  the  close  of  his  last  week  at  Burdwan,  he  brought 
his  sermon  to  his  wife,  saying,  "  Do  read  it  through,"  and 
after  she  had  done  so,  he  inquired  with  much  interest,  if  she 
liked  it,  and  whether  she  thought  he  might  preach  it  in  the 
church  on  the  following  Sunday.  He  seemed  desirous,  that 
she  should  be  fully  aware  of  the  peculiar  train  of  thought 
that  was  passing  through  his  mind,  and  she  was  much  struck 
at  the  extreme  spirituality  of  the  discourse,  and,  as  it  seemed 
to  her,  its  wonderful  adaptation ;  but  she  had  so  long  been 
accustomed  to  observe  his  remarkable  ripeness  for  heaven, 
that  she  had  oflen  been  led  to  wonder  at  his  continuance 
here,  and  had  persuaded  herself  into  the  hope,  and  almost 
the  belief,  that  God  would  graciously  spare  him,  as  "  a 
burning  and  shining  light,"  for  some  years  longer. 

He  delivered  this  affecting  testimony  of  his  divine  Mas- 
ter's grace  and  faithfulness  in  his  own  little  church,  on  the 
Sunday  morning ;  and  his  mind  was  so  absorbed  in  it,  that 
he  preached  it  again  in  the  afternoon  in  Bengali  to  his  native 
flock,  telling  them  it  was  the  address  he  was  about  to  deliver 
to  his  missionary  brethren.  This  was  the  last  time  he  stood 
up  in  his  own  pulpit ;  and  as  he  preached,  his  countenance 
beamed,  as  it  was  wont,  with  heavenly  radiance.  At  the 
close  of  the  service  he  left,  to  enter  no  more,  the  earthly 
temple  he  had  been  instrumental  in  raising,  and  which  we 
can  bub^hope  and  believe,  is  but  an  emblem  of  the  beautiful 
21* 


490         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  glorious  spiritual  temple  which  is  to  arise  from  his  de- 
voted labors.  He  had  penned  the  letter  which  follows  on 
the  Saturday  night,  and  had  given  that  also  into  his  wife's 
hands  for  perusal.  In  this  letter,  we  can  but  observe  the 
trait  in  his  character  which  his  year  of  loneliness  greatly  deep- 
ened and  expanded,  his  delight  in  intercourse  with  his  fellow- 
Christians  : 

To  Rev.  W.  Bruce: 

''Feb.  21,  1852. 

"  My  Dear  Friend  and  Brother  :  It  is  a  long  time  since 
1  last  wrote  to  you,  and  a  longer  time  still  since  I  paid  you 
a  visit  in  your  pretty  little  parsonage;  but  the  remembrance 
of  you  and  dear  Mrs.  B.,  and  your  loved  ones,  has  been 
freshened  up,  by  hearing  what  a  kind  interest  you  all  continue 
to  take  in  us  and  ours,  and  in  our  mission  too. 

"  When  a  voice  said  to  the  prophet,  '  Cry,'  he  asked, 
'What  shall  I  cry  V  and  the  Lord  gave  him  a  text,  '  All 
flesh  is  grass ;  the  grass  withereth,  but  the  Word  of  the  Lord 
abideth  for  ever.'  In  like  manner,  I  have  been  asking  my- 
self what  shall  I  write  1  just  because  when  it  is  late  at  night, 
and  one  has  a  cold  in  the  head,  the  mental  powers  are  not 
exactly  in  a  fit  state  for  lively  exercise.  But  I  recollect  that 
a  simple  tale  of  what  we  are  doing,  and  how  the  presence  of 
Jesus  is  cheering  our  hearts,  and  His  grace  helping  us  on  in  our 
labors  of  love,  is  all  that  dear  friends  at  home  desire  to  hear 
from  the  laborers  in  a  heathen  land.  This  is  an  easy  task, 
and  a  personal  enjoyment  rather  than  a  task ;  so  it  has  often 
proved  to  me.  While  I  am  thus  communing  with  those  I 
love  and  esteem,  I  feel  myself  in  spirit  transported  to  dear 
England,  or  my  own  fatherland  again ;  and  I  can  in  a  mea- 
sure realize  the  happiness  of  the  aged  St.  John,  when  he 
wrote  to  his  brethren,  'Truly  our  fellowship  is  with  the 
Father  and  His  Son  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  I  hope  my  dear  wife  and  myself  wiU  he  permftted  to 


LAST  LETTER. 


491 


labor  some  years  more  in  the  Lord's  vineyard.  It  is  a  great 
honor  to  do  so.  I  often  pray  that  a  sense  of  it  may  ever  re- 
main fresh  and  lively  on  my  mind.  Poor,  sinful,  frail  crea- 
tures as  we  are,  we  have  not  always  the  same  feelings  and 
clear  perceptions  of  it ;  particularly  when  the  body  is  weak, 
or  in  a  measure  affected  by  a  trying  climate,  to  which  every 
one  is  more  or  less  subject.  .  .  . 

"  One  of  our  truly  pious  Christians,  who  has  many  a  time 
been  preaching  the  blessed  Gospel  to  his  heathen  brethren, 
is  very  ill,  and  an  esteemed  friend,  well  known  to  many  of 
God's  dear  people  at  Clifton,  Dr.  Madden,  who  spent  a  day 
with  us  yesterday,  on  his  way  from  Lahore,  saw  the  patient, 
and  told  us  he  was  in  a  dangerous  state.  I  spoke  with  him 
three  days  ago  on  his  spiritual  state,  and  I  felt  cheered  to 
listen  to  his  calm,  deliberate  expressions  of  a  firm  trust  in 
Christ.  He  said,  '  I  feel  I  am  very  ill,  and  I  may  soon  be 
called  hence.  I  cast  myself  on  J esus,  and  feel  confident  that 
He  is  an  all-sufficient  Saviour.'*  It  is  a  sweet  encouragement 
to  me  to  see  thus,  here  and  there,  a  precious  fi:'uit  ripening 
for  the  eternal  garners.  It  reminds  one  of  the  lines  in  the 
beautifiil  missionary  hymn: 

*  Let  the  Indian,  let  the  Negro, 
Let  the  wild  barbarian  see, 
That  divine  and  glorious  conquest 
Once  achieved  on  Calvary.' 

What  we  want  above  all  things  in  our  Indian  climate, 
exposed  as  we  are  to  so  many  depressing  influences,  is  the 

*  This  good  man,  who  had  been  brought  up  in  the  mission-school  and 
had  married  one  of  the  pious  girls,  was  the  father  of  the  children  re- 
ferred to  in  a  previous  chapter.  He  lingered  through  the  whole  year, 
and  slept  in  Jesus  in  the  followiag  November.  Mr.  Geidt,  who  had 
been  very  kind  to  him  during  his  long  illness,  and  many  brethren  and 
pious  friends,  surrounded  his  dying  bed,  and  heard  his  last  testimony  to 
the  love  and  faithfulness  of  Jesus  the  Saviour. 


492  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

grace  of  perseverance.  We  are  going  to  have  a  conference 
shortly  a-t  Calcutta  with  our  Bengal  missionary  brethren, 
and  in  thinking  on  a  suitable  subject  for  an  address  which  I 
am  to  deliver,  the  text  came  to  my  mind,  '  Be  thou  faithful 
unto  death,  and  1  will  give  thee  a  crovm  of  life.'  As  I  am 
advancing  in  years,  I  feel  that  this  must  be  kept  in  yiew ; 
the  prospect  cheers  me  up  to  labor  on  without  weariness. 
Well,  my  dear  brother,  we  go  to  the  same  fountain,  we  all 
drink  the  same  spiritual  drink,  which  flows  from  the  Rock, 
and  that  Rock  is  Christ  f 

Here  this  letter  abruptly  closes,  and  with  it  the  corre- 
pondence  of  this  dear  man  of  God  with  his  friends  and 
brethren  on  earth ;  for,  with  the  exception  of  a  hasty  note 
or  two  on  business,  this  was. the  last  letter  he  ever  penned. 
He  was  now,  indeed,  "  in  the  land  of  Beulah,"*  where  the 
sun  shineth  night  and  day,  and  where  he  proved  that  as  "a 
bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  his  bride,  so  did  his  God  rejoice 
over  him,  and  cause  him  to  rest  in  His  love."  His  expe- 
rience, during  the  few  remaining  days  of  his  sojourn  below, 
reminded  her  who  observed  him  most  nearly,  of  that  of 
one  of  Bunyan's  pilgrims,  who  received  tidings  that  "  the 
Master  called  for  her,  and  expected  her  to  appear  in  His 
presence  within  ten  days,  in  clothes  of  immortality.  The 
token  she  received,  with  the  message,  was  an  arrow  with  a 
point  sharpened  with  love,  let  easily  into  her  heart,  which 
by  degrees  wrought  so  effectually  with  her,  that  at  the  time 
appointed  she  must  be  gone."  It  will  be  perceived  from 
many  of  his  remarks  that  "  his  mind  was  being  graciously 
led  to  a  continued  contemplation  of  the  uncertainty  of  time, 
and  the  nearness  of  eternal  things,  so  that  the  swift  messen- 
ger which  was  appointed  to  carry  him  to  a  world  of  glory, 
could  not  at  all  be  called  '  sudden  death,'  in  that  sense  of 
unprepared  death,  against  which  we  have  a  guardian  prayer 


*  See  Pilgrim's  Progress. 


LAST  MISSIONARY  CONFERENCE. 


493 


in  our  Liturgy.  He  and  those  dear  to  him  were  to  be  saved 
all  the  distress  of  a  lingering  illness ;  and  such  a  dispensa- 
tion not  being  needed  to  prepare  his  mind  for  the  great 
change,  and  the  desire  of  his  heart  being  to  enjoy  more  of 
the  presence  of  his  Lord,  and  to  know  his  voice  more  clearly, 
he  was  to  be  taken,  with  the  least  possible  delay,  from  the 
pulpit,  where  he  was  last  to  plead  his  Master's  cause  on 
earth,  to  the  joys  which  eye  hath  not  seen  nor  ear  heard, 
nor  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive."* 

On  the  Monday  before  leaving  Burdwan,  Mr.  Weitbrecht 
was  fully  engaged  in  setting  his  house  in  order,  and  he  re- 
corded memoranda  of  every  thing  in  the  most  exact  and 
particular  way.  He  had  objected  to  his  wife  accompanying 
him  to  Calcutta  when  it  was  at  first  proposed,  thinking  it 
would  fatigue  her,  as  the  heat  was  approaching,  and  that  it 
would  cause  her  anxiety  to  leave  her  infant  behind  ;  but  on 
the  Saturday  he  appeared  to  wish  that  she  should  go,  and 
every  arrangement  was  made  accordingly.  Thus  tenderly 
and  graciously  did  the  Lord  direct  even  this  circumstance, 
that  both  he  and  his  partner  might  spend  their  last  few  days 
together,  and  that  he  might  have  the  comfort  of  her  pre- 
sence in  his  last  hours,  and  she  the  privilege  of  accompany 
ing  him  to  the  borders  of  the  heavenly  Canaan ! 

They  left  home  on  the  Monday  evening,  and  a  friend  who 
was  present  observed  Mr.  Weitbrecht  looking  round  at  the 
beautiful  garden,  and  all  the  interesting  objects  about  the 
house,  as  if  bidding  them  a  last  adieu ;  but  if  a  passing 
thought  crossed  his  mind  that  he  should  return  home  no 
more,  it  could  scarcely  have  been  an  abiding  impression,  for 
he  had  that  very  day  directed  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  to  inform 
his  friends  at  Bancoorah,  that  he  hoped  to  be  with  them  by 
the  beginning  of  March.  His  little  boy  accompanied  them 
a  short  distance,  and  he  gave  him  his  last  kiss  on  the  road- 


*  Funeral  Sermon  by  Mr.  Boswell 


494  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

side,  before  handing  him  to  his  bearer.  A  few  of  the  Ka- 
tive  Christians  had  a  presentiment,  it  seems,  that  they  should 
see  his  face  no  more,  "for  he  had,"  said  they,  "become 
quite  perfect ;"  yet  they  hoped  and  prayed  for  his  safe  re- 
turn. He  seemed  unconscious  of  fatigue,  though  sitting  in 
the  conveyance  all  night,  and  ate  a  hearty  breakfast,  on  ar- 
riving at  the  house  of  a  kind  friend  at  Chinsurah,  at  six  in 
tne  mormng ;  after  which  he  proceeded  with  his  wife  to  the 
river-side,  and  embarked  in  a  little  fragile  boat,  which 
wafted  them  swiftly  down  the  majestic  Hooghly,  against  a 
strong  head-wind.  It  was  no  inapt  emblem  of  the  earthly 
course  which  was  so  soon  to  terminate.  They  stemmed  the 
torrent,  and  landed  in  safety  at  the  desired  haven  at  two 
P.M.  Six  days  later  his  last  conflict  with  sin  and  sorrow 
ended,  and  he  gained  the  port  of  peace.  He  was  in  high 
spirits,  and  as  soon  as  he  reached  Calcutta  went  in  imme- 
diately to  join  his  brethren,  who  were  already  assembled  to 
make  the  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  conference. 
The  next  morning  he  rose  in  the  most  cheerful  frame  of 
mind,  reminding  his  friends  of  a  bridegroom  coming  out  of 
his  chamber,  and  rejoicing  as  a  strong  man  to  run  a  race. 
He  dined  that  day  with  several  of  his  brethren,  and  invited 
them  all  very  earnestly  to  come  to  the  next  conference, 
which  was  to  be  held  at  Burdwan,  adding,  "  We  will  pre- 
pare rooms  for  both  husbands  and  wives,  and  I  hope  you 
will  all  come  to  us."  Before  that  conference,  not  only  him- 
self, but  one  of  those  he  then  so  earnestly  begged  to  corae, 
were  together  in  heaven.  In  the  evening  he  preached  to 
his  brethren.  He  showed  the  importance  of  being  faithful 
unto  the  end,  and  then  dwelt  with  great  emphasis  on  the 
promised  reward  ;  and  as  he  concluded  his  address,  his  soul 
seemed  as  it  were  panting  for  heaven,  and  he  broke  out  in 
the  following  rapturous  sentences,  partly  extemporaneously : 
"  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death !     Soon  we  too  shall  have 


LAST   MISSIONARY  CONFERENCE. 


495 


done  with  our  labors  and  trials.  Yes,  dear  brethren,  x 
sometimes  feel  as  if  I  should  very  soon  have  done  with 
mine.  I  feel  as  on  the  very,  borders  of  the  heavenly  Ca- 
naan. The  great  thing  is  to  end  well.  A  faithful  servant 
need  not  fear  when  his  Lord  calleth  him.  He  is  ready  to 
obey  the  summons.  'Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold 
the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.' 

*  GrO,  labor  on,  thy  hands  are  weak, 

Thy  knees  are  faint,  thy  soul  cast  do^\-n ; 
Yet  falter  not — the  prize  is  near. 
The  throne,  the  kingdom,  and  the  crown. 

*  ToQ  on,  toil  on,  thou  soon  shalt  find 

For  labor,  rest ;  for  exile,  home ; 
Soon  shalt  thou  hear  the  Bridegroom's  voice, 
The  midnight  cry — ^Behold,  I  come !"' 

The  verses  with  which  he  concluded,  were  from  a  beauti- 
ful hymn  that  had  been  given  him  by  Miss  Suter,  which 
was  found  afterwards  in  his  desk  with  these  two  stanzas 
strongly  marked,  evidencing  how  entirely  they  had  express- 
ed the  feelings  of  his  soul.  No  one  can  tell  whether  a  pre- 
monition was  really  given  him,  causing  him  thus  to  express 
himself  We  are  not  inclined  to  think  so,  but  rather  that 
the  expression  escaped  him,  from  a  passing  consciousness  of 
bliss  in  prospect.  He  mentioned  to  his  wife  that  he  had 
much  enjoyed  delivering  his  sermon,  and  he  hoped  she  had 
enjoyed  it  as  fully.  She  had  quite  purposed  asking  him 
what  had  led  him  to  make  the  remark  he  did,  which  had 
thrilled  at  the  time  through  the  hearts  of  his  hearers,  but 
he  seemed  so  well  and  so  cheerful,  and  so  full  of  hope  for 
the  future,  that  she  refrained.  A  native  Christian  brother 
visited  him  the  next  morning  to  thank  him,  and  telling  him 
he  had  felt  dead  and  dull  before,  but  was  quite  roused  to 
zeal,  and  warmed  to  exertion  by  what  he  had  heard.  He 


496  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


related  this  with  the  most  unsophisticated  joy,  and  appeared 
more  gratified  by  the  testimony  of  this  humble  brother,  than 
if  an  individual  of  more  outward  consequence  had  signified 
the  deep  impression  his  sermon  had  made. 

On  Thursday  evening  the  brethren  met  at  Mr.  Cuthbert's, 
and  he  being  asked  to  lead  the  devotions,  read  the  19th  of 
Luke,  and  spoke  shortly  on  the  parable  of  the  talents,  di- 
recting their  particular  attention  to  the  words,  "  Occupy  till 
I  come."  On  Friday  the  conference  closed.  He  had  taken, 
as  usual,  a  prominent  part  in  all  the  deliberations,  and  al- 
luded repeatedly  to  the  spirit  of  love  and  harmony  which 
pervaded  the  meetings,  "  which,"  said  he,  "  was  not  inter- 
rupted by  one  jarring  word."* 

He  spent  the  evening  among  his  brethren,  and  conversed 
a  great  deal  with  Mr.  Lacroix  and  others,  with  his  wonted 
cheerfulness,  but  it  was  accompanied  by  a  peculiarly  sub- 
dued and  chastened  spirit  and  demeanor,  which  appeared  in 
the  remarks  he  made  at  the  close  of  the  evening,  on  1st 
Peter,  5th  chapter.  He  spoke  with  great  earnestness  on 
the  7th  verse,  "  Casting  all  your  care  on  Him,  for  He  careth 
for  you."  It  was  precious  food  for  those  who  were  about 
to  experience  the  truth  of  it  practically.  He  chose  the 
hymn  beginning,  "  There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight,"  and 
joined  in  singing  it  with  holy  ardor,  and  then  poured  out  his 
soul  in  a  prayer  which"  deeply  impressed  all  present. 

On  Saturday  morning,  he  went  to  breakfast  with  an  old 
and  esteemed  missionary,  Mr.  Mundy,  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society,  who  had  been  laboring  for  some  thirty 
years  in  India.  He  has  recorded  his  own  impressions  of  this 
visit  in  a  letter,  which  we  will  give  hereafter.  He  then 
proceeded  to  busy  himself  in  various  secular  matters  abroad, 
and  returned  to  tiffin  with  another  dear  brother,  the  Rev.  D. 

*  The  resolution  adopted  by  the  brethren  at  their  first  conference  after 
Mr.  Weitbrocht's  death,  will  be  found  m  the  Appendix,  No.  VI. 


LAST  SUNDAY. 


497 


Ewart  of  the  Free  Church.  The  evening  was  spent  with 
several  of  his  brethren  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  H.  Thomas, 
minister  of  the  Old  or  Mission  Church,  between  whom  and 
himself  an  affectionate  intimacy  subsisted.  On  this  occa- 
sion he  was  remarkably  full  of  life,  and  joined  in  a  Bengali 
hymn,  and  in  several  German  hynms  with  peculiar  zest  and 
animation.  When  one  was  proposed  which  required  some 
effort  of  voice,  he  remarked,  "  I  have  not  sung  that  hymn 
for  several  years,  and  I  don't  know  if  my  voice  is  equal  to 
it.  It  is  nearly  worn  out,  but  it  will  be  renewed  again  by 
and  by ;"  and  then  turning  to  Mr.  Thomas,  he  said,  "  Don't 
you  think  we  shall  sing  much  in  heaven  V  The  English 
hymn  given  out  at  prayer  was  particularly  appropriate,  in 
reference  to  what  was  about  to  happen,  and  he  sung  with 
much  fervency : 

"  The  saints  on  earth  and  all  the  dead 
But  one  communion  make." 

"And  we  are  to  the  margin  come, 
And  soon  shall  launch  as  they." 

On  Sunday  morning  he  arose  in  a  most  happy,  loving 
spirit,  full  of  holy  joy  in  God,  exemplifying  some  remarks 
he  had  himself  made  years  before,  which  run  thus :  "  He 
who  has  found  life  and  peace  with  J esus,  has  a  festival  day 
with  every  rising  sun,  because  he  knows  and  lives  with 
Him.  The  nearer  he  draws  to  the  termination  of  his  earth- 
ly career,  the  purer  are  his  enjoyments,  the  deeper  and 
more  solid  his  peace,  the  brighter  his  prospects  towards  that 
perfect  and  sinless  state,  into  which  he  is,  ere  long,  to  be 
ushered."  At  breakfast  he  expressed  his  desire  to  preach, 
though  in  ordinary  circumstances  he  would  have  longed  for 
rest,  after  such  a  fatiguing  week ;  but  his  whole  soul  seemed 
bent  on  proclaiming  the  love  of  that  Saviour,  whose  own 


And  again : 


498  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

heart  is  a  fountain  of  all  love.  A  drop  from  that  fountain 
had  indeed  fallen  into  his  heart,  and  had  made  it  so  to  swell 
and  overflow  with  love,  that  it  could  not  contain  itself,  but 
welled  up,  and  flowed  forth  to  all  his  fellow-creatures.  In 
the  morning  he  attended  Mr.  Boswell's  church,  and  was  ob 
served  to  sing  the  Te  Deum  with  great  fervency,  as  if  he 
had  already  a  foretaste  of  the  society  of  "  the  glorious  com- 
pany of  the  apostles,"  "the  goodly  fellowship  of  the  pro- 
phets," and  "  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,"  whom  he  was 
about  to  join  in  praising  God  before  the  throne  above. 
After  service  he  went  into  the  vestry,  and  replied  to  an  in- 
vitation, rather  doubtfully  preferred  by  Mr.  Boswell,  as  to 
whether  he  could  preach  for  him  in  the  evening,  "  Oh  !  yes, 
with  the  greatest  pleasure."  On  his  return  home  he  saw  a 
young  man  by  appointment,  in  whom  he  was  much  inter- 
ested, and  had  a  long  conversation  with  him,  after  which  he 
spent  the  intervening  hours  with  Mr.  Lacroix,  and  they  set- 
tled the  details  of  an  extensive  missionary  tour,  which  they 
were  to  take  together,  God  willing,  as  soon  as  tWe  season 
would  permit.  "  He  seemed,"  writes  Mr.  Lacroix,  "  quite 
elated  at  the  prospect  of  usefulness,  which  this  tour  appa- 
rently held  out,"  though,  as  it  was  afterwards  ascertained, 
he  was  then  already  under  the  influence  of  the  illness  which 
terminated  his  life,  a  few  hours  later.  He  went  to  church 
apparently  well,  nor  was  he  seemingly  conscious  of  indispo- 
sition ;  indeed  it  was  evidently  the  Lord's  good  pleasure  to 
arrest  the  attack  for  a  season,  that  he  might  have  one  more 
opportunity  of  engaging  in  his  loved  employment,  before 
he  quitted  it  for  ever  on  earth,  and  that  he  might  spend  his 
last  evening  below,  and  his  last  hour  of  comparative  health 
in  proclaiming  his  Master's  grace,  and  entreating  his  fellow- 
men  once  more  to  be  ready  for  His  return. 

He  entered  into  the  devotional  part  of  the  service  very 
warmly,  and  sung  with  a  powerful  voice,  particularly  the 
last  verse  of  the  hymn  given  out : 


LAST  SERMON,  A  FEW  HOURS  BEFORE  DEATH.  499 

"And  oh!  when  I  have  safely  passed 
Through  every  conflict  but  the  last, 
Then,  still  unchanging,  vatch  beside 
My  dying  bed,  for  Thou  hast  died/' 

He  was  so  absorbed  in  this,  that  he  forgot  to  enter  the  pul- 
pit, and  remained  standing  in  his  place,  until  reminded  by 
Mr.  Boswell  that  it  was  time  to  leave  the  pew. 

He  preached  as  a  dying  man,  or  rather  as  one  about  to 
ascend  to  heaven,  from  the  words,  "  Surely  I  come  quickly  : 
Amen.  Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus,"  (Rev.  22  :  20 ;)  and 
"  though  he  did  not  tell  his  hearers  that  they  should  see  his 
face  no  more,  yet  there  was  every  thing  in  the  subject  of 
his  discourse,  and  every  thing  in  that  spirit  of  earnestness 
and  affectionate  warmth,  with  which  he  dwelt  upon  it,  to 
make  it  the  suitable  close  of  the  ministry  of  a  faithful  ser- 
vant."* Many  who  were  present  will  not  easily  forget 
either  Ms  words  or  his  appearance,  as  he  repeatedly  reiter- 
ated the  cry,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus  !"  from  the  depths  of  his 
loving  heart.  His  countenance  was  radiant  with  joy  as  he 
dwelt  upon  the  simile  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  bride. 
•*It  is,"  said  he,  "  a  subject  I  love  to  dwell  on,  for  it  seems 
to  show  the  heart  of  Jesus.  It  is  as  if  He  said,  '  I  know 
where  you  are ;  I  see  what  you  are  doing :  but  have  pa 
tience ;  wait  a  little  longer.  Behold,  I  come  quickly.'  We 
feel  this  is  not  our  home  j  we  have  not  our  city  here.  It  is 
too  old  and  worn  and  wearisome.  We  long  for  heaven. 
Come,  come,  Lord  Jesus."  He  had  preached  from  the 
same  words  after  the  death  of  his  little  boy,  and  again  on 
his  recovery  from  his  long  illness. 

After  service,  he  conversed  cheerfully  in  the  vestry  with 
several  friends,  and  did  not  appear  exhausted,  though  he 
looked  pale  and  worn.    He  detailed  his  plans,  and  spoke  of 


*  Funeral  sermon  by  Mr.  Boswell. 


500  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

the  journey  he  meant  to  take  immediately  after  his  return 
home  ;  and  then  referred  to  the  tour  he  had  been  planning 
with  Mr.  Lacroix,  with  the  most  lively  energy.  Mr.  Bos- 
well  remarked  to  a  friend,  "  Dear  Weitbrecht  and  Lacroix, 
with  God's  blessing,  may  carry  all  Bengal  before  them." 
He  shook  hands  twice  with  the  Misses  Suter,  and  twice  re- 
peated, "The  Lord  be  with  you!"  and  took  an  equally 
cheerful  farewell  of  others.  He  drove  some  friends  and 
his  wife  home,  and  conversed  with  them  as  he  went ;  but  on 
entering  the  house  he  at  once  said,  "  I  do  not  feel  well ;" 
and  the  symptoms  of  cholera  developed  themselves  so  de- 
cidedly, as  to  lead  those  around  him  to  take  the  most 
prompt  steps ;  and  two  doctors  were  quickly  in  attendance. 
"  But  it  was  the  Master's  summons,  though  he  did  not  ap 
pear  himself  to  recognize  it  as  such,  and  spoke  of  it  as  a 
slight  and  passing  illness ;  thus  verifying  the  Saviour's 
words  :  '  In  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  Man 
cometh.'  And  it  is  remarkable  that,  with  the  subject  of 
departure  and  being  with  the  Saviour  so  upon  his  mind, 
and  in  his  desires,  and  even  in  his  full  anticipation,  when 
the  swift  messenger  actually  arrived  to  convey  him  to  His 
home,  it  took  him  in  a  measure  by  surprise.  It  is  thus  the 
Lord  sometimes  accomplishes  His  promise : '  If  a  man  keep 
My  saying,  he  shall  never  see  death ;'  he  shall  have  none 
of  that  sense  of  it  which  is  due  to  sin,  but  shall  be  so  full 
of  Christ  and  heaven,  that  the  dread  enemy  is  unnoticed, 
and  His  presence  recognized  and  welcomed  in  its  stead."* 

Even  after  his  seizure,  he  went  up  stairs  to  take  tea  with 
his  brethren,  several  of  whom  approached  to  speak  to  him 
as  he'  sat  on  an  easy  chair,  but  were  deterred  by  his  solemn 
and  peculiar  appearance,  and  a  feeling  of  unwillingness  to 
disturb  him.    He  seemed  quite  absorbed  in  the  singing  of 


*  Funeral  sermon  by  Mr.  Boswell. 


APPROACHING  DISSOLUTION. 


501 


Pope's  Ode,  "  The  Dying  Christian  to  his  Soul,"  which  two 
or  three  of  the  missionaries  and  their  wives  were  engaged 
in  singing,  in  another  part  of  the  room.  It  appeared  as  if 
it  was  for  him  they  were  unconsciously  uttering  those  beau- 
tiful words : 

"  Vital  spark  of  heavenly  flame, 
Quit,  oh !  quit,  this  mortal  frame  f 
Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife, 
And  let  me  languish  into  life. 
Trembling,  hoping,  lingering,  flying. 
Oh  I  the  pain,  the  bliss  of  dying ! 
Hark !  they  whisper ;  angels  say, 
Sister  spirit,  come  away  I 
The  world  recedes ;  it  disappears ; 
Heaven  opens  on  my  eyes ;  my  ears 

With  sounds  seraphic  ring. 
Lend,  lend  your  wings !  I  mount,  I  fly  I 
0  Grave  1  where  is  thy  victory  ? 

0  Death  !  where  is  thy  sting  ?" 

As  soon  as  they  had  finished,  he  left  the  room,  and  with- 
drew for  ever  from  the  society  he  had  so  much  delighted  in 
on  earth,  to  unite  a  few  hours  later  Avith  "  the  general  assem- 
bly and  church  of  the  first-born,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect,"  above. 

When  the  symptoms  became  more  violent,  and  pain  had 
much  increased,  his  wife  said  to  him,  "  Fear  not,  my  belov- 
ed husband ;  the  Lord  is  able  to  bring  you  safely  through." 
"  Yes,"  he  rejoined,  "  I  know  He  is."  When  he  complained 
of  severe  cramp,  she  said,  "  Is  the  pain  very  great  *?"  "  Oh ! 
very."  "But  not  like  that  which  Jesus  suffered  for  us." 
"  No,"  he  added,  "  not  like  that."  She  then  prayed,  "  O 
blessed  Lord !  sustain  Thy  beloved  servant,  and  carry  him 
safely  through,  and  raise  him  up  again,  if  it  be  Thy  holy 
will."  He  repeated  the  words  after  her,  with  an  "  Amen." 
Several  times  during  the  night  she  asked  him,  if  "Jesus 


502  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

were  near."  His  reply  always  was,  "  Very  near,  very  pre- 
cious!" Dr.  Webb  had,  from  the  first  moment  he  saw 
him,  pronounced  the  attack  to  be  of  the  most  dangerous 
kind,  and  expressed  his  wonder  as  to  how  he  could  have 
preached,  for  he  had  no  perceptible  pulse,  even  when  he 
first  arrived.  About  two  a.m.,  the  symptoms  were  much 
checked,  and  his  medical  friends  (there  were  three  in  attend- 
ance) began  to  entertain  strong  hope  that  he  might  rally  ; 
but  at  the  same  time  warned  his  wife  that  he  was  in  the 
most  imminent  danger,  and  that  if  he  had  any  important  pa- 
pers to  sign,  it  might  be  desirable  not  to  delay.  He  had 
not,  however,  to  be  disturbed  by  secular  concerns,  but  was 
among  those  "blessed  servants  whom  the  Lord  when  He 
cometh  shall  find  ready."  At  three  a.m.,  kind  Dr.  Madden 
took  his  hand  in  his,  and  said  to  him,  "  No  doubt  you  are 
amply  supported  in  this  hour  of  your  trial  f  He  replied, 
"  Oh !  yes,  the  Lord  is  with  me."  Dr.  Madden  then  said, 
"  Ever  since  you  preached  to  my  soldiers  in  1849,  and  visit- 
ed my  sick  in  hospital,  (referring  to  a  period  when  he  had 
been  encamped  at  Burdwan  for  a  few  days,  with  his  regi 
ment,)  I  have  felt  a  great  love  for  you."  The  dying  saint 
replied,  "  Oh !  yes,  that  love  is  the  beginning  of  the  commu- 
nion of  saints  on  earth,  to  last  for  ever  in  glory."  Mrs. 
Weitbrecht  was  kindly  aided  in  the  watches  of  this  sorrow- 
ful night,  by  several  of  his  missionary  brethren,  particular- 
ly Mr.  Long,  in  whose  house  he  was,  Mr.  Sandys,  Mr.  Lipp, 
and  Mr.  Bost.  These  relieved  each  other  in  ministering  to 
his  body  and  soul,  in  the  most  kind,  affectionate  manner 
possible ;  and  one  of  the  doctors  always  remained  beside 
him.  Prayer  also  was  made  without  ceasing  for  him,  but 
the  Lord  will  not  allow  His  dear  servants  to  be  always 
"  bearing  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day ;"  and  "  He  was 
calling  him  from  his  toil  and  his  labor,  and  his  out-door  ser- 
vice here,"  to  be  "  absent  from  the  body  and  present  with 


LAST  WORDS. 


508 


Himself."  That  gracious  Friend  sustained  the  spirit  of  his 
partner  in  this  hour  of  need,  and  though  it  could  not  but  be 
a  night  of  heaviness,  and  one  long  to  be  remembered.  He 
not  only  strengthened  her  most  -vronderfully  to  attend  to  his 
every  want,  but  enabled  her,  as  she  saw  the  disease  advanc- 
ing, willingly,  yea,  joyfully,  to  yield  him  up  to  Him.  A 
little  of  that  grace  of  which  He  is  so  full,  can  indeed  help 
the  soul  of  the  feeblest  to  bear  and  suffer  even  to  astonish- 
ment. 

His  patience  was  so  great,  that  Dr.  Madden  observed  it 
repeatedly,  and  inquired  if  it  were  habitual ;  and  once  or 
twice,  in  the  warmth  of  his  feelings,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh !  if 
tliis  be  dying  of  cholera,  then  I  would  say,  '  Come  then, 
blessed  messenger,  and  take  me  to  heaven  !"' 

As  day  broke,  many  who  loved  him  assembled  around 
his  couch,  and  among  them  Mr.  Boswell,  Mr.  Lacroix,  Mrs. 
Haberlin,  and  Mr.  Wylie.  He  was  then  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  powerful  remedies  he  had  taken,  but  gave  signs 
of  consciousness  as  soon  as  he  heard  Mr.  Boswell's  voice ; 
and  on  his  saying,  "  I  hope,  dear  brother,  you  have  hold  of 
Jesus,"  he  said  emphatically,  "Yes;"  and  on  his  adding, 
"  Keep  hold  of  the  Saviour ;  you  know  He  will  keep  hold 
of  you ;  •  I  will  never  leave  thee  ;  no,  never  forsake  thee,'  " 
he  bowed  his  head  on  the  pillow  in  assent.  The  symptoms 
just  then  seemed  favorable,  and  hope  entered  the  hearts  of 
his  brethren ;  and  how  deep  were  the  yearnings  of  many 
for  his  life,  if  it  were  possible  for  the  cup  to  pass  over  !  Mr. 
Boswell  proposed  prayer,  and  the  brethren  and  their  wives, 
who  had,  in  God's  gracious  providence,  assembled  for  a 
prayer-meeting  that  had  been  previously  arranged,  without 
knowing  of  his  illness,  followed  him  to  an  upper  room,  where, 
afler  reading  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  Hosea,  he  pleaded 
for  him  most  touchingly  ;  and  then  concluded  by  resigning 
him  entirely  into  God's  gracious  hands,  to  do  with  him  as 


504  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

seemed  good  in  His  sight.  It  seemed  as  if  the  messenger 
from  the  sanctuary  had  come  down  on  the  wings  of  that 
prayer,  to  carry  hence  the  redeemed  soul.  He  gave  his  be- 
loved wife  one  more  look  of  recognition,  and  then,  while  Mr. 
Boswell  pronounced  the  words,  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord,"  his  breath  ceas- 
ed. The  morning  without  clouds  broke  at  once  upon  his 
freed  soul,  as  the  clear  shining  of  the  sun  after  rain ;  and  it 
seemed  as  if  those  standing  around  him  could  actually  see 
the  emancipated  spirit,  expanding  her  wings  for  the  upward 
flight,  and  his  countenance  change,  as  his  eye  caught  the 
brightness  of  the  coming  glory ! 

"  Thus  did  one  night's  storm,"  wrote  Mr.  Leupolt,  "  fell 
the  goodly  cedar  which  had  stood  many  a  blast,"  and  about 
nine  a.m.  on  the  1st  of  March,  the  anniversary  of  his  mother's 
death,  he  followed  her  to  heaven.  "Yes,  the  faithful  sentinel 
was  found  at  his  post;  and  he  fell,  as  the  last  enemy  assailed 
him,  with  his  loved  Leader's  name  and  praise  upon  his  lips. 
Who  could  wish  more  honor  or  more  safety  for  him  1  espe- 
cially when  this  was  the  close  of  a  life,  which  had  been  dis- 
tinguished by  every  scriptural  token,  that  to  him  to  live  was 
Christ,  and  that  therefore  to  him  to  die  was  gain.  Oh!  that 
all  who  read  this  record,  may  be  found  as  full  of  desire  for 
the  Lord's  appearing,  and  as  ready  for  His  presence  as  he 
was !"  * 

Yet  those  who  loved  him  could  not  but  mourn,  though  it 
were  with  such  bright  hope.  As  a  friend,  as  a  missionary 
brother,  as  well  as  in  the  more  tender  relations  in  which  he 
stood,  his  memory  could  not  but  cost  many  affectionate 
tears,  while,  "  as  a  public  loss  to  Bengal  and  its  missionary 
field,  did  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  not  live,  all  felt  as  if  they 
should  not  know  where  to  look  for  help  over  such  a  loss."  * 


*  Funeral  Sermon  by  Mr.  Boswell. 


THE  SHEPHERD   TAKEN,  BUT   THE  PASTURE  LEFT.  505 


When  God,  in  His  all-wise  providence,  makes  such  a  sudden 
and  unexpected  breach  in  the  little  band  of  His  earnest  and 
devoted  laborers,  in  a  land  like  India ;  when  a  zealous  fel- 
low-worker, with  whom  his  brethren  had  enjoyed  delightful 
intercourse,  for  whose  activity  and  love  they  saw  reason  to 
be  thankful,  and  in  whose  wisdom  and  well-directed  influence 
they  felt  the  utmost  confidence,  is  thus  cut  down  at  a  stroke, 
and  removed  from  that  place  among  them,  which,  according 
to  man's  short-sighted  vision,  no  one  else  is  so  well  qualified 
to  fill,  it  is  indeed  a  severe  trial  to  their  faith :  and  we  do 
not  wonder  to  hear  them  so  express  it.  Still  less  do  we 
wonder  at  hearing,  that  his  bereaved  flock  at  Burdwan  united 
in  one  general  lamentation,  exclaiming,  "  Why  were  not 
two  or  three  of  us  taken  in  his  place  But  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Master,  had  not  departed,  though  the  beloved  of  his 
Lord  had  gone  to  dwell  in  safety  by  Him.  The  words  of 
the  aged  Hindu  convert  at  Gorruckpore,  first  written  in 
reference  to  Mr.  Wybrow's  removal,  are  also  applicable 
here,  and  they  felt  them  so.  "  Our  shepherd,  with  his  staff* 
in  his  hand  and  his  sandals  on  his  feet,  has  walked  over  the 
Jordan  of  death  to  the  promised  land  of  Canaan,  leaving  us 
poor  sheep  in  the  wilderness.  But,  blessed  be  God,  the 
pasture  is  not  yet  quite  withered.  The  rivulets,  and 
streams,  and  running  brooks  of  living  water  are  not  yet 
dried  up ;  and  we  know  that  the  fountain  never  fails :  so 
that  whilst  we  sorrow  for  our  earthly  head,  our  heavenly 
Head  still  lives,  and  we  in  Him.  We  are  the  garden  of  the 
Lord,  and  if  His  sun  shine  upon  us,  we  shall  remain  fresh 
and.  flourishing."* 

It  will  be  even  so,  the  reaping  in  joy  must  follow  the  sow- 
ing in  tears,  and  this  can  but  become  apparent  in  the  mission 
at  Burdwan.    "  Other  men  labored,  and  ye  are  entered  into 

*  See  au  interesting  letter  in  the  Appendix,  from  the  native  Christians 
to  the  C.  M.  S.,  No  VIII. 

22 


506 


MEMOIR   OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


their  labors,"  said  our  gracious  Lord.  John  4  :  38.  May 
the  dear  brethren  who  enter  into  his  labors  be  as  largely 
blessed  as  his  most  ardent  longings  could  have  desired  ! 

The  circumstances  attending  the  removal  of  Mr.  Weit- 
brecht  were  certainly  most  mercifnlly  ordered.  He  came 
to  Calcutta  "  to  die,"  as  it  were,  "  in  the  presence  of  all  his 
brethren,"  after  endearing  himself  in  the  highest  degree  to 
their  best  affections,  by  the  loving  and  spiritual  intercourse 
he  had  held  with  them,  during  the  few  days  preceding  his 
dissolution.  He  was  not  cut  off,  as  some  faithful  and  devoted 
missionaries  have  been,  and  as  he  had  often  appeared  likely 
to  be  himself,  in  the  lonely  jungle,  apart  from  all  who  could 
tenderly  minister  to  him ;  nor  was  he  permitted  to  taste  any 
of  the  bitterness  of  death.  As  far  as  could  be  perceived,  he 
was  not  aware  that  he  was  in  the  dark  valley,  which  was 
truly  in  his  case  but  that  of  the  shadow  of  death.  He  never 
inquired  the  nature  of  his  disease,  nor  expressed  one  doubt  or 
apprehension  as  to  the  result,  and  though  he  was  so  ardently 
attached,  and  so  peculiarly  faithful  to  the  objects  of  his  earth' 
ly  love  and  care,  he  had  evidently  no  anxious  and  harassing 
thoughts  concerning  them.  When  asked  by  his  wife,  about 
an  hour  before  his  death,  how  he  felt,  he  replied :  "  Much 
better,  and  quite  comfortable,"  and  though  he  could  not 
hear  others,  on  account  of  the  deafness  produced  by  the 
opium  which  had  been  administered,  he  was  quite  alive  to 
every  softly-spoken  word  she  said,  so  that  his  deepest 
susceptibilities  were  evidently  awake  to  the  last.  Yet  his 
gracious  Lord  dealt  so  considerately  with  him,  that  nothing 
seemed  to  interrupt  the  peace  of  his  dying  hours. 

The  tidings  of  his  sudden  removal  spread  quickly  through 
Calcutta,  and  deeply  affected  a  large  circle  to  whom  he  was 
personally  endeared,  or  who  knew  of  his  worth  and  the  cha- 
racter he  bore  as  a  Christian  and  a  missionary.    "We  have  . 
lost  our  best  and  dearest  friend  in  India !"  was  the  involun- 


FUNERAL. 


507 


tary  exclamation  of  some ;  and  "  his  missionary  brethren 
were  for  awhile  almost  stunned ;  though  the  mourning  was 
not  confined  to  them,  for  it  was  quite  universal,  and  each 
felt  as  if  they  had  lost  a  personal  friend  and  brother."  "  Give 
us  all  grace,"  said  several,  "  so  to  follow  his  good  example, 
that  with  him  we  may  be  made  partakers  of  Thy  heavenly 
kingdom."  Many  of  the  missionaries  of  the  various  denom- 
inations in  Calcutta  came  to  Mr.  Long's  house  at  once,  to 
express  their  deep  sympathy  personally,  and  to  mingle  their 
tears  with  the  bereaved ;  and  in  the  evening,  when  the 
remains  were  conveyed  to  their  last  resting-place,  in  the  quiet 
garden  of  God,  a  large  assembly  congregated  together  to 
accompany  them  there. 

We  will  give  the  description  of  the  funeral  in  the  words 
of  three  of  his  brethren,  who  write :  "  The  remains  of  our 
lamented  friend  and  brother  were  removed  from  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Long,  to  the  Mission  Church  in  the  Mirzapore 
compound  by  his  own  brethren,  and  placed  by  them  just 
below  that  pulpit,  from  whence  he  had  but  four  evenings 
before  so  solemnly  counselled  them  to  be  '  faithful  unto 
death.'  A  large  concourse,  consisting  of  chaplains,  ministers, 
missionaries,  and  laymen,  anxious  to  show  their  last  testi- 
mony of  the  regard  they  felt  for  him,  surrounded  the  coffin, 
as  well  as  many  native  Christians.  The  service  was  then 
read  in  part  by  the  beloved  friend  of  the  departed,  the  Rev. 
R.  B.  Boswell ;  and  when  it  was  time  to  remove  the  coffin 
into  the  hearse,  the  missionaries  again  came  forward  to 
place  it  there,  unwilling  that  any  hired  attendants  should 
aid  in  this  service  of  love.  The  last  journey  was  then  taken, 
and  the  unusually  long  procession  following,  which  was 
deeply  and  truly  solemn,  testified  how  highly  and  universally 
our  deceased  brother  had  been  esteemed.  At  the  gate  of 
the  cemetery,  the  body  was  once  more  removed  from  the 
hearse,  and  several  ministers,  missionaries,  and  other  friends^ 


508  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

spontaneously  came  forward  to  unite  with  the  Church  mis- 
sionaries, in  the  mournful  task  of  bearing  the  body  of  their 
beloved  brother  to  that  distant  spot  in  the  cemetery,  which 
had  been  selected  for  its  reception." 

This  was  the  more  touching  as  it  was  not  done  from  any 
preconcerted  plan,  but  evidently  from  a  sudden  impulse  of 
esteem  and  love,  and  it  was  a  beautiful  exemplification  of 
his  own  spirit.  "  As  I  looked  on  the  clergy  of  the  Church 
of  England,"  writes  Mr.  Lacroix, "  including  the  missionaries 
of  her  communion  belonging  to  three  distinct  societies,  the 
ministers  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  and  those  of  the  Free 
Church,  with  their  missionaries,  and  the  brethren  of  our  own 
Society,  and  our  dear  Baptist  friends,  with  laymen  and  Hin- 
du believers,  all  weeping  around  me,  I  felt  that  I  had  never, 
during  my  long  residence  in  India,  witnessed  the  like  on  any 
previous  occasion."  Though  Stephen's  death  was  so  glo- 
rious, yet  we  are  told  that  "  devout  men  carried  him  to  his 
burial,  and  made  great  lamentation  over  him."  So  it  was 
in  this  instance.  The  reading  of  the  burial-service  was 
resumed  at  the  gate  of  the  cemetery,  and  concluded  at  the 
grave,  where  the  precious  dust  was  deposited,  "  in  the  sure 
and  certain  hope  of  a  resurrection  to  eternal  life."  The 
mourning  assembly  then  withdrew,  all  deeply  impressed  by 
the  feeling,  that  a  good  man  and  a  faithful  missionary  had  that 
day  fallen.  Thus  was  dear  Weitbrecht  honored  in  death  as 
he  had  been  in  life.  The  memory,  too,  of  the  just  is  blessed. 
Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  His  saints. 
God  does  not  readily  allow  His  servants  to  die,  but  watches 
over  them  as  a  rare  thing  which  He  values  and  protects. 
"  Concerning  them  that  are  asleep,  therefore,  we  will  sorrow 
not,  even  as  others  who  have  no  hope,  for  if  we  believe  that 
Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in 
Jesus  will  God  bring  with  Him.  Wherefore  let  us  comfort 
one  another  with  these  words."  (1  Thess.  4  :  13,  14,  18.) 


FUNERAL  SERMON. 


509 


On  the  Friday  in  the  same  week  the  venerable  Bishop  of 
Calcutta,  who  had  always  been  so  beloved  and  esteemed  by 
Mr.  Weitbrecht,  delivered  one  of  his  Lent  lectures,  in  the 
course  of  which  he  alluded  to  his  beloved  brother,  John 
James  Weitbrecht,  in  the  most  warm  and  affectionate  man- 
ner ;  and  in  a  letter  of  sympathy  which  he  addressed  to  his 
widow,  he  remarked,  "  His  bright  example,  my  dear  friend, 
for  twenty-one  years  in  India,  will  ever  be  a  refreshing 
thought  to  you,  in  moments  of  desolation." 

On  the  following  Sunday,  a  sermon  was  preached  at  the 
Old  or  Mission  Church,  Calcutta,  in  reference  to  the  solemn 
event,  by  the  Eev.  G.  G.  Cuthbert,  from  the  same  words 
that  had  been  selected  by  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  as  the  text  of  his 
conference  sermon,  "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will 
give  thee  a  crown  of  life."  (Rev.  2  :  10.)*  All  the  Cal- 
cutta missionaries  whose  engagements  permitted  attended. 
Mr.  Mundy,  and  others  who  preached  to  congregations  of 
their  own,  made  the  circumstance  the  theme  of  solemn  and 
impressive  discourses,  either  in  the  morning  or  evenmg  of 
the  same  day,  at  their  various  places  of  worship  ;  striving 
to  deepen  and  render  profitable  the  striking  occurrence,  both 
to  themselves  and  their  own  immediate  circles,  and  suitable 
reference  was  made  to  it  in  every  place  of  worship  in  the 
city.  The  brother  most  like  to  the  deceased  in  spirituality 
of  mind  and  warmth  of  Christian  love,  Mr.  Boswell,  preach- 
ed at  his  own  church,  St  James's,  in  the  evening,  to  a  very 
crowded  congregation,  from  Matthew  24  :  11-46 ;  and  began 
his  solemn  and  striking  discourse  by  saying,  "  Dear  friends, 
another  voice  addressed  you  from  this  place,  last  Sunday 
evening.    That  voice  then  delivered  its  last  public  testimony 

*  Mr.  C.  preached  this  sermon  on  the  succeeding  Sunday  at  Burdwan 
to  Mr.  "Weitbrecht's  own  congregation ;  and  on  that  wliich  followed,  Mr. 
Geidt  likewise  deHvered  to  them  a  truly  brotherly  and  affectionate  dis- 
course on  a  similar  subject. 


510         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

to  a  Saviour's  worth — to  a  Saviour's  truth — and  has  ceased 
to  speak  upon  earth.  Our  dear  friend  and  brother  sleepeth. 
His  dust  reposes  in  its  last  resting-place — carried  there,  in 
affectionate  honor,  by  many  who  loved  him  on  earth ; 
whilst  ministering  angels  have  carried  his  spirit  to  the 
presence  of  One  who  loved  him  better  than  all.  Yes,  the 
honored  missionary  of  Burdwan  here  gave  us  his  last  part- 
ing word !" 

The  following  letter,  from  the  Rev  G.  Mundy,  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society,  will  be  read  with  much  interest. 
It  was  addressed  by  him  to  Mrs.  Weitbrecht,  a  few  weeks 
after  the  removal  of  her  husband,  and  reminds  one  of  a  re- 
mark of  the  sainted  Bickersteth,  "  When  the  restraints  are 
removed  from  all  the  Josephs  of  the  brotherhood  through- 
out the  Church,  what  gushes  of  endearment  and  affection  will 
be  realized !" 

"  Calcutta,  April  27ih,  1852. 
"  Though  residing  at  a  considerable  distance  from  Mr. 
Weitbrecht's  field  of  labor,  and  connected  with  another 
section  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  his  removal  from  earth  to 
heaven,  so  sudden,  so  unexpected,  has  deeply  affected  me ; 
and  has  added  another  pang  to  that  feeling  of  heart-desola- 
tion with  which  I  have  long  been  familiar. 
know  that  to  live  with  a  man,  to  see  the  manner  in  which  he 
acts,  and  the  spirit  which  he  exhibits  in  his  own  domestic 
circle,  is  the  best  way  to  test  the  reality  of  Christian  cha- 
racter ;  yet  it  is  not  necessarily  the  only  one.  The  apostle 
remarks,  '  that  some  men's  sins  are  open  beforehand,'  and 
the  same  may  be  said  of  some  men's  excellencies.  They 
are  so  open,  so  prominent,  and  stand  out  in  such  bold  relief, 
as  to  stamp  at  once  the  character  of  him  who  wears  them. 
You  at  once  see  through  its  transparency,  and  although  fou 
may  never  have  been  associated  with  the  possessor  in  the 
domestic  circle,  yet  the  brightly-reflected  image  of  the  Lord 


MR.  MUNDy's  letter. 


511 


of  the  Church,  which  you  behold  him  exhibiting,  removes 
every  shadow  of  doubt,  and  ranks  him  in  your  judgment  as 
a  Christian  of  no  common  order.  And  need  I  say,  my  dear 
friend,  that  such  a  man  was  your  departed  husband  ]  It  is 
true,  I  never  lived  with  him,  never  was  privileged  to  cross 
the  threshold  of  his  dwelling,  or  to  survey  that  portion  of 
the  great  moral  vineyard  he  so  diligently,  prayerfully,  and 
successfully  cultivated ;  yet  I  have  seen  and  known  him 
sufficiently  to  appreciate  his  high  Christian  excellencies. 

"  It  is  to  me  a  matter  of  regret  that  I  never  visited  Burd- 
wan,  as  he  so  often  invited  me  to  do.  My  personal  inter- 
course with  him  was  restricted  to  a  few  occasional,  and,  gen- 
erally speaking,  very  short  visits,  which  he  paid  at  my 
house  at  Chinsurah,  when  on  his  way  to  Calcutta.  The 
Christian  friendship,  however,  thus  formed  has  been  perma- 
nent and  abiding  ;  and,  apart  from  his  own  relatives,  I  much 
doubt  whether  any  man  in  India  felt  more  deeply  the  keen 
edge  of  sorrow  than  I  did,  when  I  first  heard  of  his  removal. 
I  have,  during  my  long  residence  in  this  land  of  idols,  fre- 
quently seen  beloved  friends  suddenly  cut  down  by  the  ruth- 
less hand  of  the  kind  of  terrors,  but  I  can  not  recall  any 
instance  of  the  kind  which  so  completely  paralyzed  my  own 
mind,  as  did  the  first  news  of  the  death  of  this  honored  ser- 
vant of  Christ. 

"  The  circumstances  of  my  first  and  last  interview  with 
him  are  particularly  impressed  on  my  memory ;  the  former 
occurred  at  Chinsurah  in  1833.  He  was  passing  through  the 
station,  called  on  me  and  introduced  himself,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  the  day  with  me  ;  and  the  impression  which 
he  then  left  was  that  of  an  angel's  visit.  During  the  years 
that  have  intervened,  how  many  similar  interchanges  have 
we  made  of  fraternal  love  and  friendship,  generally  short, 
but  always  sweet,  sweet  in  the  enjoyment,  and  I  had  almost 
said,  still  more  so  in  the  review !    And  to  you,  my  dear 


512  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

friend,  I  need  not  detail  the  circumstances  of  our  last  inter 
view,  which  occurred  only  the  morning  but  one  before  he 
was  removed  from  earth  to  heaven.  I  think  I  never  saw 
him  in  more  robust  health  than  he  appeared  to  be  on  that 
morning.  He  was  full  of  energy,  and  enjoying  a  full  flow  of 
spirits.  Alas !  how  little  could  I  then  think  his  end  was 
so  near !  Still,  there  was  something  about  his  parting  pray- 
er which  deeply  impressed  me,  and  I  had  it  in  review  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  day.  It  breathed  so  much  of  the  atmo- 
sphere of  heaven,  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  the  prison-bound 
spirit  were,  even  then,  trying  her  pinions  preparatory  to  her 
final  flight. 

"  There  are  certain  men  in  the  Church  who  exhibit,  in  a 
prominent  manner,  some  rare  attribute  of  Christian  charac- 
ter. Other  men  may  be  distinguished  by  the  possession  of 
more  than  one  of  these  attributes,  whilst  in  other  qualities 
they  are  conspicuously  defective  ;  there  is  not  a  regular, 
consistent  symmetry  about  them.  With  our  departed  friend 
it  was  far  otherwise.  All  those  graces  which  are  lovely 
and  of  good  report  appear  to  have  been  nicely  balanced, 
harmoniously  blended  together  in  him  ;  and  this,  I  appre- 
hend, accounts  for  the  fact,  that  he  was  looked  upon  by 
Christians  of  all  denominations  as  a  '  brother  beloved  P  In 
him  we  all  beheld  the  brightly-reflected  image  of  the  Church's 
great  Intercessor ;  and  most  cordially  do  I  agree  with  the 
beautiful  testimony  borne  to  his  character,  in  the  Minute  of 
the  Calcutta  United  Missionary  Conference,*  whilst,  as  it 
regards  my  own  personal  feelings,  I  can  truly  say  of  him,  in 
the  touching  language  of  David  over  his  lamented  Jonathan, 
'  I  am  distressed  for  thee,  my  brother.  Very  pleasant  hast 
thou  been  unto  me.' 

"  The  removal  of  such  a  man  in  the  midst  of  his  days  and 
his  usefulness  deeply  impresses  one  great  truth  upon  the 


*  This  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  No  VII. 


MR.   MUNDY's  letter. 


513 


mind,  namely,  that  God  is  entirely  independent  of  all  haman 
agency,  in  carrying  out  His  great  designs  of  mercy,  in  rela- 
tion to  our  ruined  race.  When  any  of  the  princes  of  this 
world  have  discovered  an  agent  suited  to  their  purpose,  and 
well  qualified  to  carry  on  any  enterprise  which  they  may 
have  in  view,  they  do  not  thus  lay  him  aside,  but  cherish 
him,  employ  him,  and  tax  his  powers,  both  of  body  and 
mind,  to  the  uttermost ;  but  God  sometimes  raises  up  an 
instrument,  qualifies  him  in  a  peculiar  manner  for  some 
work  in  His  great  moral  vineyard ;  and  when  high  expecta- 
tions are  raised  in  reference  to  his  future  usefulness,  when 
ntanj  eyes  are  drawn,  and  many  hearts  attracted  towards 
him,  then,  by  some  sudden,  unlooked-for,  and,  as  we  com- 
monly call  it,  mysterious  providence,  He  prostrates  him  by 
affliction,  or  removes  him  by  death;  and  by  so  doing  seems, 
as  it  were,  to  say  to  us — Though  you  may  look  upon  him  as 
the  '  breath  of  your  nostrils,'  and  be  ready  to  say.  Beneath 
his  shadow  we  shall  live,  yet  I  can  do  without  him ;  he  is 
not  essential  to  the  carrying  out  of  My  purposes ;  My  work 
can  go  on  without  him ;  and  thus  it  is,  as  Cowper  beautifully 
observes,  that : 

'  He  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 
His  wonders  to  perform,' 

"  It  is  recorded  of  Samson,  that  the  dead  which  he  slew 
at  his  death  were  more  than  they  which  he  slew  in  his  life  ; 
and  it  has  been  remarked,  that  something  of  a  similar  kind 
sometimes  occurs,  in  connection  with  the  death  of  Christ's 
honored  servants ;  their  removal  is  made  the  means  of  ex- 
citing a  peculiar  interest  in  the  Church;  attention  is  aroused 
by  the  event ;  the  slumbers  of  the  past  are  thrown  off ;  and 
a  greater  amount  of  good  is  thereby  effected  than  possibly 
would  have  been  done,  had  they  been  spared  to  labor  on 
silently,  and  comparatively  unobserved,  through  a  long 
22* 


514         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


course  of  years.  This  remark  I  think  was  strikingly  illus- 
trated in  the  deaths  of  Mrs.  Newell  and  Henry  Martyn ;  it 
would  scarcely  have  been  possible  for  either  of  them,  by  the 
labors  of  a  protracted  life,  to  have  accomplished  that  amount 
of  good,  which  resulted  from  the  deep  impression  made 
upon  the  Church  by  their  death.  There  are  also  some  pecu- 
liarly touching  incidents,  my  dear  friend,  connected  with  the 
removal  of  your  beloved  husband,  which  develop  the  spirit 
of  the  man,  and  will,  I  am  persuaded,  when  fully  brought 
out  and  illustrated,  excite  an  amount  of  interest  in  the  work 
of  missions,  and  of  prayer  for  their  prosperity,  which  will 
tell,  in  no  common  measure,  upon  the  future  and  the  final 
triumph  of  the  truth  in  our  sin-stricken  world."* 

To  the  foregoing  may  be  added  a  few  other  extracts  from 
several  of  the  very  numerous  letters,  written  by  sympathiz- 
ing friends  to  Mrs.  Weitbrecht.  The  first  is  from  the  pen 
of  the  Bishop  of  Madras,  and  is  in  his  usual  fervent  style  : 
"  I  always  looked  up  to  his  character  with  affectionate  re- 
gard, and  a  feeling  of  my  own  inferiority  5  *****  * 
but  still,  my  dear  friend,  you  will  say.  All  is  well.  Yes, 
Infinite  Love  and  Goodness  can  not  have  done  wrong ;  and 
when  you  think  of  the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  your  de- 
parted one,  combined,  as  they  were,  with  zeal  and  devoted- 
ness — the  wisdom  of  the  scholar,  united  with  the  humility 
and  simplicity  of  childhood ;  all  the  union  of  rare  and  choice 
Christian  virtues,  and  now  all  escaped  from  this  uncongenial 
clime — ^how  it  must  stir  you  up  to  become  partaker  of  that 
faith  from  which  they  all  arose,  and  to  long  to  see  him  again 
in  the  glory  of  permanency,  in  which,  with  all  his  excellency 
and  blessedness,  he  is  now  fixed  !" 

The  other  is  from  a  friend  he  esteemed  very  highly,  Dr. 

*  Mr.  Mundy  has  since  joined  his  dear  brother  in  a  better  world.  He 
died  in  Calcutta  of  fever  in  August,  1853. 


A   PUBLIC  TESTIMONIAL, 


515 


Allan  Webb  of  Calcutta,  medical  adviser  to  the  Bishop,  who 
had  often  attended  him  in  illness,  and  was  called  in  imme- 
diately his  last  attack  came  on.  It  was  written  after  the 
receipt  of  a  volume  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  Sermons,  which 
was  published  in  India,  at  the  request  of  many  friends,  as 
soon  as  possible  after  his  death,  with  a  brief  memoir  of  his 
life  prefixed,  which  had  been  originally  prepared  for  the 
Calcutta  Christian  Intelligencer,  and  appeared  in  it  in  April, 
1852,  and  which  was  reprinted  and  circulated  in  England  in 
the  same  year.  Dr.  Webb  writes :  "  I  hope  never  to  part 
with  this  remembrance  of  my  departed  friend,  except  to 
my  children,  that  they  may  learn  from  these  records  what 
good  and  holy  men  God  raises  up,  even  now,  to  manifest 
His  glory. 

"  We  are  told  that  even  as  respects  the  children  of  light, 
'  one  star  difFereth  from  another  star  in  glory,'  and  surely 
he  whose  light  shone  so  brightly  in  this  world  will  have  a 
resplendent  glory  in  the  world  above. 

"  I  have  been  deeply  affected  in  reading  the  touchingly 
simple  record  of  his  life.  I  feel  it  to  be  most  strictly  true — 
a  delightful  portrait !  The  noble  simplicity,  combined  with 
the  dignity  that  wins  the  heart  of  opposers,  I,  as  you  well 
know,  have  witnessed,  and  I  shall  ever  regard  it  as  one  of 
the  great  privileges  of  my  life  to  have  been  regarded  by 
him  as  a  friend." 

"  I  only  wish,"  wrote  his  dear  brother  Bomwetch,  the 
only  one  of  his  brethren  who  was  not  personally  present  on 
the  affecting  occasion,  "  that  every  missionary  may  die  like 
him.    How  he  will  enjoy  his  rest !" 

In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  week,  the  friends  of  Mr, 
Weitbrecht  formed  themselves  into  a  committee,  to  devise 
a  scheme  for  a  public  testimonial.  The  details  of  the  plan 
they  formed  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  No.  V. 

A  few  weeks  later  his  friends  at  Burdwan  made  a  similar 


516  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

effort,  and  collected  nearly  £200,  part  of  which  was  ex- 
pended in  erecting  a  tabular  monument  to  his  memory,  in 
his  own  church,  but  the  larger  portion  of  the  sum  was  in- 
vested in  a  government  security.  The  interest  of  this  is 
appropriated,  in  perpetuity,  to  the  support  of  a  native  Pro- 
testant Christian,  educated  in  the  Burdwan  district,  who  will 
study  in  the  Medical  College  at  Calcutta  for  two  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  is  expected  to  be  qualified  to  be- 
come a  general  practitioner  among  natives.  The  first  youth 
sent,  was  one  from  the  Burdwan  Orphan  School.  This  was 
a  plan  which  had  been  much  in  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  mind  dur- 
ing the  few  weeks  preceding  his  death ;  and  his  friends  in 
the  station  were  anxious  to  carry  out  his  wish.  The  Rajah 
gave  £50,  and  other  native  gentlemen  and  ladies  contributed 
liberally,  as  well  as  the  native  Christians,  and  all  the  Euro- 
pean and  East-Indian  residents. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  English  portion  of  the  in- 
scription on  the  tablet : 


TABLET  IN  HIS  CHURCH. 


617 


THIS  TABLET  IS  EEECTED  IN  MEMOBY  OP 

THE  REV.  JOHN  "JAMES  WEITBRECHT, 

A  MISSIONAEY  OF  THE  CHUKCH  MISSIONAEY  SOCIETY, 
WHO,  FOR  UPWARDS  OF  TWENTY-ONE  YEARS,  LABORED  AT  THIS  STATION 

IN  THE  CAUSE  OF  RELiaiON  AND  HUiL&JflTY. 
HIS  AMIABLE  DISPOSITION,  SOUND  JUDGMENT,  AND  ilANLY  CHARACTER ' 
HIS  CATHOLIC  SPIRIT,  DEEP  PIETY,  AND  HOLY  LIFE ; 
HIS  FIDELITY  AS  A  MINISTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL  TO  HIS  COUNTRYMEN ; 
ANT)  HIS  UNWEARIED  EXERTIONS  FOR  THE 
INSTRUCTION  AND  DIPROVEMENT  OF  THE  NAUVE  POPULATION  OF  BENGAL, 
MADE  HTM  UNIVERSALLY  RESPECTED  WHILE  HE  LIVED,  AND 
RENDER  HIS  NAME  FRAGRANT  NOW  THAT  HE  IS  DEAD. 

THE  MAHARAJAH  OF  BUEDWAN, 

AND  OTHER  NATIVE  GENTLEMEN, 
BY  WHOM  HE  WAS  HELD       HIGH  ESTEEM, 
HAVE  JOINED  HIS  CHRISTIAN  COUNTRYMEN  IN  ERECTING  THIS  MONUMENT^ 
IN  THE  CHURCH  WHICH  HE  HIMSELF  FOUNDED, 
Airo  IN  ESTABLISHENG  A  MEDICAL  SCHOLARSHIP,  TO  BE  CALLED  AFTER 
HIS  NAME,  FOR  PROTESTANT  CHRISTIAN  NATIVEa 
HE  WAS  BORN  APRIL  29TH,  1802 ;   ARRIVED  IN  INDIA  IN  JANUARY,  1831 
AND  DIED  AT  CALCUTTA,  MARCH  IST,  1852, 
AGED  49  YEARS  ANT)  10  MON^THS. 
"for  HIM  TO  DIE  WAS  GAIN." 

The  substance  of  this  was  expressed  in  Bengali  below  the 
English  inscription. 

The  resolution  put  on  record  by  the  Calcutta  Correspond- 
ing Committee,  on  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  de- 
cease, follows : 

"  That  this  Committee  have  learned,  with  the  deepest  sor- 
row, of  the  departure,  on  the  1st  of  March,  in  the  midst  of 
his  years,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  invaluable  labors,  of  their 
friend  and  brother,  the  Rev.  John  James  Weitbrecht. 
Whilst  they  acknowledge  with  gratitude  to  God  His  good- 


518  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 


ness  in  raising  up  such  a  laborer  in  this  vineyard,  and  all 
the  blessmg  which  has  attended  his  labors,  and  the  allevia- 
ting circumstances  of  his  happy  preparedness  for  his  great 
change,  they  can  not  but  mourn  over  the  desolation  to  Burd- 
wan,  and  his  family  and  his  many  friends,  thus  occasioned  ; 
and  they  desire  more  particularly  to  express  their  heart-felt 
sympathy  with  the  widow  and  the  family,  thus  deprived  of 
one  who  was  distinguished  for  all  the  graces  that  bless  a 
family  circle,  as  for  those  gifts  which  make  his  death  one  of 
the  greatest  public  losses  which  the  missionary  field  of 
India  has  ever  sustained." 

The  likeness  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  which  appears  at  the 
beginning  of  this  volume,  is  considered  good,  though  no 
portrait  can  convey  an  idea  of  the  beautiful  smile  that  con- 
stantly lighted  up  his  countenance,  or  of  its  beaming  ex- 
pression. Nor  do  the  wiiming  yet  earnest  tones  of  his 
voice  admit  of  description.  He  was  of  a  good  height,  and 
in  his  earlier  years  slight  in  figure,  but  became  stouter  in 
later  life. 

When  the  afflictive  tidings  of  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  sudden 
removal  reached  England,  it  produced  there  also  a  deep  and 
solemn  impression. 

"  Our  hearts  have  been  very  much  with  you,"  wrote  one 
of  the  members  of  the  Home  Committee  to  Mrs.  Weit- 
brecht, "  and  we  trust  that,  in  the  abundant  grace  given  to 
our  beloved  missionary,  and  his  devoted  labors  for  so  many 
years,  as  well  as  in  his  abundant  entrance  into  the  everlast- 
ing kingdom,  you  have  been  enabled  to  feel  *  exceeding  joy- 
ful in  all  your  tribulation.'  Such  an  end  of  such  a  life 
leaves  one  nothing  to  desire  on  his  account.  I  trust  you 
will  see  his  children  treading  in  his  steps,  and  following  him 
as  he  followed  Christ.  There  has  been  but  one  feeling  of 
deep  respect  and  esteem  felt,  both  in  the  Committee  and  at 
Exeter  Hall.    In  the  Committee,  the  solemn  tone  in  which 


REV.  HENRY  VENN's  LETTER. 


519 


the  event  was  announced  and  received  by  all  exceeded  any 
thing  I  have  witnessed  there.  The  mournful  sighs  that 
were  heard  on  all  sides  at  the  reading  of  the  letter,  most 
truly  told  the  feelings  entertained  by  those  present." 

"  Your  sorrows,"  wrote  the  Rev.  John  Bateman,*  "  I  can 
truly  appreciate,  for  dear  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was  no  common 
man,  and  his  loss  is  no  common  loss. 

"  I  have  seen  him  in  every  position — sick  and  in  search  of 
health — vigorous  and  in  full  work — in  England  recruiting — 
in  the  pulpit  pleading — in  society  cheerful  and  edifying. 
There  was  always  something  to  love  in  him,  and  an  integ- 
rity, simplicity,  and  uprightness  of  mind  which  inspired  re- 
spect. He  will  assuredly  form  one  of  that  noble  army  of 
missionaries  whose  names  will  render  this  age  memorable. 
He  was  a  man  without  a  blot — a  great  thing  in  these  days 
of  feeble  faith — and  now  he  will  know  neither  sin  nor  sor- 
row more.  Happy  man !  '  He  rests  from  his  labors  and 
his  works  do  follow  him.' " 

Part  of  the  letter  written  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Venn  on 
the  same  mournful  occasion  can  not  be  omitted : 

"  My  Dear  Mrs.  Weitbrecht  :  Three  months  will  have 
elapsed  after  your  deep  affliction,  before  you  can  receive 
my  assurance  of  sympathy  and  condolence.  But  these  will 
not  be  the  less  needed.  Time  will  not  have  healed  your 
wound.  Nay,  perhaps,  you  will  begin  to  feel  your  loss 
more  acutely,  as  you  perceive  that  it  fades  away  from  the 
mind  of  others.  This  is  a  trial  which  I  well  know,  to  see 
how  soon  '  the  place  thereof  knoweth  him  no  more,'  though 
to  us  every  stone  on  the  ground,  and  every  leaf  on  the  tree, 
has  a  tongue  to  remind  us  of  our  grief. 

"It  is  well  if  this  bitter  experience  drive  us  nearer  to  the 
God  of  all  consolation,  if  it  make  us  cultivate  more  care- 
fully communion  with  Him,  of  '  whom  the  whole  family  in 


*  Son-in-law  and  formerly  chaplain  to  Bishop  "Wilson. 


520         MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

heaven  and  earth  is  named,'  and  in  whose  presence  we  seem 
to  meet  again  those  who  have  been  parted  from  us.  The 
best  advice  I  can  give  you  is,  to  make  full  use  of  Christ. 
In  the  seasons  of  special  desolation  remember  His  word : 
*  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock ;  if  any  man  will 
open  unto  Me  I  will  come  in  unto  him,  and  will  sup  with 
him.'  Oh !  infinite  condescension !  We  feel  our  loneliness 
most  acutely  when  we  miss  their  presence  at  the  social  cir- 
cle, the  table,  the  desk,  the  room  they  once  occupied.  The 
Saviour  offers  to  supply  this  place,  and  He  can  supply  ik 
Not  always,  because  of  our  unbelief;  but  sometimes  the 
soul  is  so  occupied  with  soothing  thoughts  of  the  infinite 
blessedness  of  union  with  Christ,  that  we  can  be  content  to 
let  our  beloved  ones  go  to  be  with  Him ;  and  we  can  wait 
and,  as  it  were,  make  up  our  lost  time,  so  as  to  become 
more  fit  companions  for  those  who,  at  the  period  of  their 
separation,  were  far  in  advance  of  us  in  Christian  graces. 

"  Since  I  received  your  letter,  the  contemplation  of  the 
character  of  your  departed  husband  has  been  continually 
before  my  mind.  It  was  a  noble  character ;  true  nobility 
was  stamped  upon  its  every  feature ;  his  clear  yet  compre- 
hensive grasp  of  every  subject,  the  force  of  his  argument, 
the  fire  of  his  spirit,  the  sweetness  of  his  temper,  all  com. 
bined  to  form  a  first-rate  missionary.  When  we  look  for 
such  another  to  fill  his  place,  we  can  only  say,  '  The  Lord 
liveth!' 

"  I  feel  assured  that  there  must  be  abundant  materials  for 
presenting  such  a  character  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  and 
you  are  well  qualified  for  such  a  task.  I  presume  you  will,  at 
once,  begin  to  put  such  papers  and  letters  into  order  as  may 
serve  for  memoirs,  to  the  glory  of  the  grace  of  Christ  

"  You  will  receive  an  official  letter  by  this  mail,  entirely 
complying  with  your  request  to  the  Calcutta  Committee  to 
remain  at  Burdwan  for  some  months,  and  to  superintend 


CONCLUSION. 


521 


such  parts  of  the  mission  as  you  are  able  to  do.  As  to  the 
future,  I  find  it  impossible  at  present,  to  fix  my  thoughts 
upon  any  plan  for  supplying  his  place.  I  think  that  after  a 
year  or  so,  your  family  at  home  have  the  first  claim  upon 
you ;  and  your  o\vn  relatives,  whom  I  have  seen  twice,  take, 

1  am  happy  to  find,  the  same  view  For  your  dear 

children  you  need  not  fear.  He  who  is  better  able  to  watch 
over  them  than  any  earthly  parent,  will  take  them  up.  He 
is  faithful  who  has  so  promised ;  and  He  can  and  will,  if 
necessary,  call  forth  a  thousand  friends  to  care  for  them.  The 
extreme  pressure  of  preparation  for  the  meeting  alone  pre- 
vented me  having  them  a  few  days  at  my  house,  when  the 
news  first  arrived.  I  felt  greatly  obliged  for  your  letter, 
and  intend  to  put  parts  of  it  into  the  'Record'  of  next  month. 
I  humbly  trust  that  it  may,  as  you  desire,  be  made  effective 
in  calling  others  to  come  forward  and  man  the  breach ;  men 
of  the  stamp  of  Weitbrecht.    The  Lord  Himself  must  form, 

and  prepare,  and  endow  such  for  His  own  service  

With  affectionate  regards,  in  which  my  daughter  unites,  in 
cordial  Christian  sympathy,  most  sincerely  yours, 

"Hexry  Vexn."* 

The  grand  aim,  in  presenting  the  memoirs  of  a  deceased 
missionary  to  the  Christian  public,  should  be  to  edify  souls, 
and  to  stir  us  up  to  more  vigorous  efforts  in  that  holy  enter- 
prise, which  is  still  carried  on  so  sluggishly  and  inefficiently, 
in  comparison  with  the  wants  of  a  fallen  world.  May  this 
truthful  record  be  owned  of  God,  to  produce  such  an  effect 
to  the  honor  of  His  name,  and  "  the  glory  of  the  grace  of 
Christ !" 

Mr.  Weitbrecht  now  speaks  to  us,  with  the  solemnity  of 
a  voice  which  is  for  ever  silenced  on  earth.    Let  us  listen 

*  These  last  extracts  from  letters  nave  been  added  by  me  — Ed. 


522  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  JOHN  JAMES  WEITBRECHT. 

and  learn  in  the  spirit  which  he  would  desire  from  his  place 
of  rest.  He  yet  pleads  by  this  volume  for  the  souls  still 
lying  in  darkness,  for  India's  benighted  sons  and  daughters. 
Did  HE  ever  repent  of  having  become  a  missionary  while  on 
earth  ?  We  have  his  own  repeated  assurance  that  he  never 
did.  Does  he  repent  now,  that  he  can  see  things  as  they 
are  in  the  light  of  eternity?  We  may  rest  confident  he 
does  not ;  nor  will  any  repent  who,  in  firm  faith  and  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  are  led  to  follow  his  example.  Oh !  may  He 
stir  up  many  to  supply  his  place,  with  all  his  firmness  of  pur- 
pose and  all  his  persevering  devotedness  of  spirit !  We  will 
lift  up  our  hearts  with  earnestness  for  this  desired  consum- 
mation, and  we  can  not  doubt  that  He  has  His  hidden  ones, 
whom  He  is  Himself  preparing  for  this  holy  service,  those 
who,  like  Moses,  are  being  trained  in  the  wilderness,  and 
who  will,  we  hope,  be  by  this  Memoir  strengthened  and 
encouraged  to  come  forward  and  ofier  themselves  for  mis- 
sionary service.  What  God  did  for  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  He 
can  do  for  others,  and  we  would  remember  that  "  the  time 
is  short."  We  resemble,  so  to  speak,  a  set  of  dissolving 
views ;  while  we  behold  them  they  vanish,  and  we  pass  away 
too.  Let  us  then  be  up  and  doing,  for  "  there  is  placed  be- 
fore us,  in  this  noble  employment,  a  vocation  great  beyond 
the  power  of  language  to  express ;  for  the  privilege  of  en- 
gaging in  which  we  may  well  deem  all  opposition  and  trifles 
too  small  to  prevent  us." 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. 

Devotional  Meetings  in  the  Kingdom  of  "Wuetemberg. 

The  little  kingdom  of  Wurtemberg  is  that  remarkable  comer  of  Ger- 
many, where  Evangehcal  sentiments  and  true  piety  found  a  refuge,  long 
after  neology  and  infidelity  had  supplanted  them  m  the  rest  of  Protest- 
ant Germany.  This  honor  was  perhaps  conferred  on  it,  on  account  of 
the  Hberahty  of  its  Government  in  matters  of  religion,  as  manifested 
towards  the  Waldenses  and  towards  Dissenters  from  the  State  Church, 
At  the  period  of  which  we  write,  a  number  of  Moravians,  or  TJnited 
Brethren,  were  found  scattered  among  its  towns  and  villages,  and  their 
travelling  preachers  had  free  access  to  all  classes  of  society,  and  full 
hberty  to  hold  meetings  and  carry  on  the  work  of  evangelization.  To 
the  labors  of  these  devoted  men  may  probably  be  ascribed,  in  the  first 
place,  that  deep  spu-it  of  compassion  for  the  heathen  world,  which  pre- 
vails so  extensively  among  its  Christian  population,  and  which  has 
caused  it  to  furnish  many  more  missionaries,  during  the  present  century, 
than  any  other  country  of  equal  extent  and  population.  The  meetings, 
which  were  at  first  held  chiefly  by  the  Moravians,  were  at  a  later  period 
usually  presided  over  by  pious  laymen,  not  formally  connected  with  the 
United  Brethren.  They  were  sometimes,  but  seldom,  conducted  by 
ministers,  though  often  attended  by  them  without  reference  to  their 
ofi&ce.  Meetings  of  this  nature  have  been  held  in  Germany  for  the  last 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  but  flourished  in  no  part  of  it  so  remarka- 
bly as  in  "Wurtemberg.    At  the  time  they  were  commenced,  the  Church 


524 


APPENDIX. 


was  in  a  very  dead  state,  and  P.  Jacob  Spener,  who  died  at  Berlin  in 
1705,  and  A.  H.  Francke  of  Halle,  were  the  blessed  instruments,  in 
the  hands  of  God,  of  awakening  it  to  new  life,  by  beginning  these 
meetings,  where  all  who  were  seeking  spiritual  edification  might  attend 
and  find  communion  with  those  of  kindred  views,  and  at  which  a  true 
missionary  spirit  was  fostered  and  spread  among  the  people.  They  are 
never  held  during  church  hours,  and  are  commenced  by  singing  and  a 
short  prayer ;  a  portion  of  Scripture  is  then  read  and  conversed  upon 
with  spirit  and  unction,  and  sometimes  missionary  information  is  com- 
municated. This  was  still  more  usual  at  the  period  of  which  we  are 
writing,  when  there  were  no  regular  missionary  periodicals.  Another 
hymn  and  prayer  concludes  the  meeting,  which  lasts  about  an  hour. 
Those  who  attend  are  not  regarded  as  Dissenters,  nor  are  they  such,  as 
they  are  accustomed  regularly  to  attend  the  parish  church,  and  to  re- 
ceive the  sacraments  at  the  hands  of  the  estabhshed  clergy.  The 
epithet  of  Pietists  was  formerly  contemptuously  apphed  to  those  who 
frequented  these  assembhes,  and  they  had  to  bear  much  persecution  and 
ridicule,  both  fi'om  laymen  and  unenhghtened  ministers ;  yet  there  is,  at 
the  present  day,  scarcely  a  town  or  village  in  the  Protestant  part  of 
Wurtemberg,  which  is  about  two  thirds  of  the  whole,  where  there  are 
not  one  or  more  held,  both  for  adults  and  children.  The  latter  are  pre- 
sided over  by  some  experienced  Christian,  gifted  with  the  peculiai* 
power  of  exciting  the  interests  of  young  people  in  serious  things ;  and 
the  instances  are  numerous  in  which  their  tender  and  susceptible  minds 
have  thus  been  led  to  imbibe  a  love  for  divine  truth.  At  such  a  one 
the  subject  of  his  memoir  was  accustomed  to  attend  in  his  childhood. 

As  a  striking  proof  of  the  liberality  which  still  characterizes  the 
Government  of  "Wurtemberg,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  there  exist  two 
settlements  in  this  small  kingdom,  Kornthal  and  Wilhelmsdorf,  estab- 
lished by  royal  permission,  and  inhabited  by  a  number  of  pious  people, 
who  are  allowed  to  select  and  nominate  their  own  minister,  and  to  en- 
joy and  exercise  the  same  hberty  in  matters  of  rehgion,  as  the  Mora- 
vians do  n  their  settlements.  The  influence  of  these  communities  is 
extensively  felt,  and  they  may  well  be  regarded  as  nurseries  of  missiooi- 
aries. 


I 


APPENDIX.  525 


No.  n. 

Death  of  Mr.  and  Mes.  Knorpp. 

Very  afiOictive  news  reached  Burdwan  at  this  period  from  Mr.  Leu- 
polt,  which  shall  be  related  in  his  own  words : 

"  On  my  return  from  my  excm^ion,  I  found  dear  brother  Knorpp  iu 
weak  health,  but  my  presence  seemed  to  revive  him  He  went  out  in 
cents  to  preach,  and  to  try  to  ward  ofif  a  sickness,  of  the  approach  of 
which  he  had  some  presentiment.  His  wife  went  with  him,  and  I  re- 
mained with  them  till  they  left.  I  never  before  observed  them  so  ear- 
nest in  prayer ;  they  were  both  preparing  for  heaven.  A  holy  earnest- 
ness rested  on  dear  Knorpp's  brow,  while  his  wife  was  more  affection- 
ate than  ever.  During  their  absence  I  had  several  letters  from  them, 
expressive  of  their  desire  for  the  coming  of  Christ's  kingdom.  In  one  of 
them,  Mr.  Knorpp,  after  complaining  of  his  unprofitableness,  says  :  '  Oh  1 
that  I  had  the  love  of  a  John,  the  zeal  of  a  Paul,  and  the  strength  of 
a  Goliath !'  and  his  wife's  desires  were  most  ardently  expressed  for 
'  living  more  to  the  glory  of  Ood  and  more  in  communion  with  Him.' 
They  returned  home  in  a  fortnight,  httle  benefited ;  indeed  Knorpp  had 
evidently  grown  weaker. 

"As  he  suffered  more  daily,  I  pressed  him  to  consult  a  doctor,  which 
he  did;  but  he  did  not  think  it  a  serious  case.  I  was,  however, 
alarmed,  and  at  the  same  time  observed  that  Mrs.  Knorpp's  health  be- 
came impaired ;  her  cheek  grew  pale,  her  eyes  languid,  and  her  mind 
depressed,  and  they  both  lost  their  appetite.  On  the  10th  of  March, 
Knorpp  was  obHged  to  remain  in  bed,  and  his  poor  wife  was  much  ex- 
cited, under  the  idea  that  he  would  not  hve.  During  two  days  and 
nights  she  was  incessantly  engaged  in  nursing  him,  and  I  shaU  never 
forget  the  impression  I  received  when  I  entered  their  house  the  follow- 
ing day ;  they  were  asleep  beside  each  other,  the  one  as  pale  as  death, 
and  the  other  flushed  with  fever.  I  begged  much  to  stay  during  the 
night,  but  Mrs.  Elnorpp  would  not  permit  it.  On  the  following  Tues- 
day, when  returning  from  the  city,  I  found  Mrs.  Knorpp  really  too  Ul  to 
conceal  it ;  stUl  she  wished  to  continue  attending  on  her  husband ;  but 
here  I  interfered,  and  prepared  a  couch  for  her  in  his  study,  on  which 
she  recUned.  From  that  hour  they  saw  each  other  no  more  in  this  world. 
Mrs.  Knorpp's  fever  continued  to  increase ;  but  as  it  was  supposed 


526  APPENDIX. 

to  be  merely  the  effect  of  excitement  and  anxiety,  we  were  not  alarmed 
for  her,  and  merely  tried  to  keep  her  quiet,  while  I  went  from  one  room 
to  the  other,  endeavoring  to  administer  spiritual  and  temporal  comfort  to 
each  of  them. 

"  But  on  Thursday,  the  sickness  took  a  more  serious  turn  with  both 
of  them,  and  I  found  my  strength  unequal  to  my  task ;  I  therefore 
thankfully  accepted  the  offer  of  dear  Smith,  and  our  dear  missionary 
brethren  and  their  wives  of  the  London  and  Baptist  Societies,  to  come 
and  share  with  me  in  my  labor  of  love.  About  eight  at  night  I  prepared 
to  retire;  but,  as  I  was  giving  dear  Knorpp  some  barley-water,  I  per- 
ceived, to  my  sorrow,  his  countenance  changed,  his  teeth  closed,  his 
eyes  become  fixed,  and  death  seemed  to  seize  upon  his  whole  frame.  A 
blister  was  immediately  apphed  to  his  head,  and  being  greatly  fatigued 
I  lay  down,  though  the  impression  of  my  dying  brother  was  too  vividly 
before  me  to  allow  me  to  sleep.  At  one  I  was  sent  for,  as  he  was  sup- 
posed to  be  dying,  "We  prayed  with  him,  and  he  prayed  also.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  night  his  prospects  had  been  gloomy,  but  now  they 
were  bright.  He  exhorted  the  heathen  servants,  spoke  to  me  in  Grerman, 
and  then  said,  'Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  1'  Being  asked  how 
he  felt,  he  said,  '  Peace,  peace,  peace  is  in  my  soul ;  a  bright  light 
shines  before  me ;  I  could  tell  you  more,  but  I  must  not.'  His  coun- 
tenance beamed  with  heavenly  joy,  and  every  one  could  see  that  the 
Lord  was  gracious  to  him.  Some  time  afterward  he  said  to  me  in  Ger- 
man :  *  Ah  1  it  is  a  hard  thing  before  the  thread  of  life  is  cut  through.  I 
am  dying ;  there  is  no  more  hope  of  life ;  a  httle  while  and  I  shall  be 
with  the  Lord.'  I  could  not  reply  from  tears :  he  looked  with  longing 
joy  to  his  approaching  dissolution. 

"  He  lingered  on  till  the  25th,  when  he  called  for  me,  and  wrote  his 
dying  wish  on  paper,  being  unable  to  speak.  He  longed  to  write  to 
Anne,  but  perceiving  his  extreme  weakness,  I  took  the  paper  from  him. 
On  that  day  he  became  delirious,  sometimes  fancying  he  lay  in  hot  sand, 
ill  fire,  or  between  red-hot  stones ;  his  wife  meanwhile  got  worse,  and 
was  evidently  aware  of  her  own  approaching  death,  and  requested  me  to 
destroy  her  papers  after  she  was  gone.  '  I  die,  I  die,'  said  she.  *  May 
the  Lord  pardon  my  sins,  and  receive  me  to  Himself !' 

" My  own  sufferings  as  you  may  imagine,  were  intense;  yet  as  my 
day,  so  was  my  strength.  I  could  now  and  then  speak  to  my  God  as  it 
were  face  to  face,  and  this  was  my  consolation. 

"  About  this  time  I  was  myself  seized  with  the  same  mahgnant  fever, 
and  retired  to  bed,  with  the  deep  impression  that  I  should  never  riso 
again.    I  therefore  took  leave  of  my  dear  brother,  who  was  then  per- 


APPENDIX. 


527 


fectly  sensible,  with  the  assurance,  on  both  sides,  of  never  seeing  each 
other  again ;  nor  did  we  do  so,  for  I  became  dangerously  ill,  and  during 
the  height  of  my  attack  he  departed.  His  end  was  peace  ;  his  prospects 
remained  bright  to  the  last ;  he  breathed  loud  for  two  hours,  and  then 
fell  asleep.  I  was  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  closing  his  eyes  and  at- 
tending his  funeral,  and  my  feelings  were  acute,  but  the  Lord  was  my 
consolation.  Never  in  my  life  was  He  so  gracious  to  me  as  on  that  day ; 
tears  of  sorrow  and  of  joy  mingled,  and  I  could  not  help  crying  out, 

'  Oh!  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing 
My  dear  Redeemer's  praise  !' 

*'  As  soon  as  I  could  move,  I  went  to  see  Mrs.  Elnorpp.  She  had 
heard  of  my  illness,  but  nothing  was  told  her  of  her  husband's  deatJi  nor 
did  she  ever  hear  that  she  was  a  widow.  She  asked  but  once  after  him, 
and  the  question  was  not  answered.  How  she  will  have  rejoiced  at 
finding  him  in  heaven,  ready  to  welcome  her  there !  I  was  with  her  for 
two  hours ;  she  was  perfectly  sensible,  and  said  she  was  better,  but  I 
thought  her  dying.  "We  parted  in  tears,  and  the  next  morning  when  I 
awoke  I  was  told  that  her  spirit  too  had  left  its  earthly  tabernacle,  aad 
taken  its  flight  to  the  eternal  mansions. 

"  She  was  laid  beside  him  on  his  left  hand  the  following  day ;  and 
there  they  repose  together  till  the  archangel  awake  them  with  his 
trump. 

*'  The  sickness  seemed  to  seize  fi"om  the  beginning  on  the  very  vitals. 
AH  the  care  and  attention  possible  was  rendered  to  our  beloved  friends. 
Two  doctors  were  in  constant  attendance,  one  of  whom  always  slept  in  the 
house.  AU  our  missionary  brethren  watched  over  them  night  and  day, 
with  \mceasing  solicitude ;  fervent  prayers  were  offered  for  them  both  in 
pubhc  and  in  private,  but  the  Lord  was  pleased  not  to  answer  them  as 
we  desired ;  and  who  shall  ask  why  ?  They  are  gone  home,  and  are 
safe ;  and  I  hope  the  cutting  bereavement  has  created  in  me  a  greater  de- 
sire than  ever  to  hve  more  to  Grod's  glory,  and  to  cleave  closer  to  Him  from 
whom  death  can  not  separate  me.  Although  my  intense  feelings  of  joy 
and  sorrow  will  pass  away,  these  desires  I  trust  never  will.  Pray  for 
me,  beloved  brother  W.   Your  afficted  C.  B.  Leupolt." 


528 


APPENDIX. 


No.  in. 

Letter  on  Itinerating. 

To  the  Committee  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  Salisbury  Square, 
London, 

BuRDWAN,  l^th  March,  1851. 

My  Dear  Friends  :  I  beg  to  communicate  to  you  my  thoughts  on  a 
subject  which  has,  for  some  time  past,  engaged  my  serious  attention  and 
earnest  prayers ;  it  has  regard  to  the  most  prominent  part  of  our  labors, 
that  of  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  Hindus.  I  feel  that  as  a  body  we 
are  not  doing  as  much  as  should  bo  done  in  this  important  branch  of  la- 
bor. This  conviction  has  been  strengthened  by  my  itinerancies  last  cold 
season.  I  have  put  the  question  again  and  again  to  myself,  If  it  be  prac- 
ticable, why  should  not  one  or  two  of  us  be  engaged  in  this  blessed  work 
exclusively  all  the  year  round,  just  as  some  of  our  brethren  are  engaged 
in  English  schools,  or  vernacular  ?  And  I  think  I  am  prepared  success- 
fully to  show  that  such  a  thing  is  possible. 

I  have  agitated  the  subject  at  our  late  conference  meetings ;  I  have 
spoken  with  some  of  our  experienced  brethren  privately  on  the  subject, 
and  they  are  all  agreed  with  me,  that  it  is  very  desirable  we  should  have 
more  extensive  preaching,  and  lament  that  it  is  not  done.  The  fact  is,  by 
an  unceasing  routine  of  station  duties,  in  schools,  with  congregations,  etc., 
most  of  us  are  tied  and  chained  down  to  the  mission-station,  and  it  re- 
quires a  strong  effort,  and  days  of  previous  arrangement,  before  a  mis- 
sionary can  get  rid  of  his  entanglements,  when  he  is  about  to  itinerate 
for  a  few  weeks.  These  obstacles  ought  to  be  removed  in  the  case  of 
those  who  are  wilUng  to  go  forth  on  this  errand  of  mercy.  Some  of  our 
brethren  ought  to  be  left  at  hberty  to  engage  in  it  unhindered.  I  be- 
lieve the  time  is  come  when  a  beginning  of  this  kind  should  be  made, 
at  least  in  one  favorable  locality. 

I  consider  Burdwan  and  the  country  around  the  most  favorable  local- 
ity for  such  an  undertaking :  this  is  not  merely  a  fancy  of  mine.  Mr. 
Lacroix,  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  experienced  and  able  preachers 
in  Bengal,  has  expressed  the  same  opinion,  and  it  was  the  result  of  an 
extensive  tour  we  made  together  in  January  last.  The  preacher  with 
his  tent  and  books  on  a  couple  of  carts,  can  move  about  freely  m.  every 


APPENDIX. 


529 


direction.  This  is  not  the  case  in  many  other  parts  of  Bengal,  where  the 
traveller  meets  with  obstructions  from  a  network  of  rivers,  channels, 
puddles,  etc.  Mr.  Lacroix  mentioned  to  me  the  striking  fact,  that  when 
missionaries  in  Calcutta  are  going  to  itinerate,  they  almost  invariably 
proceed  by  water  from  the  reasons  just  mentioned.  But  then  it  fre- 
quently happens,  that  on  inquiry  the  missionary  is  told  of  a  large  popu- 
lous place,  five,  six,  or  even  eight  miles  inland ;  he  is  of  course  anxious 
to  go  and  preach  there,  but  to  walk  thither  and  return  is  impracticable, 
or  if  attempted,  wUl  prove  injurious ;  in  the  boat  we  can  not  go,  and  he 
must  give  up  the  place.  Hence,  in  order  to  do  the  work  effectually,  the 
missionary  in  the  south-east  of  Bengal  should  be  equipped  for  land 
and  water  travelling ;  he  should  have  a  boat,  a  palanquin,  with  a  set  of 
bearers,  or  at  least  a  horse,  and  a  tent ;  but  such  an  arrangement  is  both 
expensive  and  cumbersome ;  the  missionaries  are  obhged,  therefore,  to 
confine  themselves  to  visiting  places  near  the  banks  of  the  river. 

In  the  district  of  Burdwan  we  have  no  such  obstructions  ;  if  a  river 
is  in  our  way,  we  cross  it,  and  we  move  about  freely  in  a  radius  of  sixty 
mQes  in  every  direction,  amidst  a  teeming  population. 

On  our  tour  in  January  last,  we  struck  through  a  line  of  country, 
moving  along  the  southern  borders  of  the  Burdwan  and  Hooghly  dis- 
tricts, which  was  comparatively  new  to  me,  and  towns  of  10,000,  some 
even  of  20,000  inhabitants,  such  as  Kytee,  Hajeepore,  Eanchiborpore, 
Dewangunge,  and  Chunderconah,  (the  last-named  with  30,000  souls,) 
had  never  in  all  probability  seen  a  missionary  before.  There  is  dense, 
dark  heathenism,  in  all  its  wild,  horrid  exuberance,  lying  untouched  al- 
most before  our  doors,  at  a  distance  of  from  forty  to  fifty  miles.  And 
we  wonder  that  the  Hindus  are  so  slow  in  being  converted !  These  are 
grave  and  simple  facts,  and  it  strikes  me  that  such  a  state  of  things  does  im- 
peratively call  upon  us  to  go,  and  let  in  at  least  some  rays  of  the  heaven- 
ly Hght  upon  this  dreary,  gloomy  neighborhood  of  ours. 

We  confine  ourselves  too  much  to  home  labor ;  but  Burdwan  and 
Krishnaghur,  and  Rottenpore  etc.,  are  only  little  specks  in  a  land  teem- 
ing with  millions.  I  desire  to  guard  myself  against  being  misunder- 
stood. I  do  not  depreciate  the  labors  of  the  school,  and  the  nursing  of 
the  tender  plants  we  have  gathered  into  the  Lord's  garden.  I  do  still 
recollect  the  sainted  Bishop  Corrie's  judicious  remark,  which  he  made  in 
one  of  his  affectionate  letters  to  me  :  "A  Uttle  ground  weU  cultivated 
will  bear  more  fruit  than  seed  scattered  over  a  large  surface."  But  this 
was  nineteen  years  ago,  in  the  earher  stage  of  missions,  when  stations 
were  very  few  and  one  ordained  missionary  was  doing  the  work  at  each 
alone.  If  Corrie  were  among  us  now,  I  think  he  would  be  dehghted  to 
23 


530 


APPENDIX. 


see  some  of  our  brethren  exclusively  devoted  to  the  apostolic  work  of 
going  abroad  and  preaching  the  Gospel  to  every  creature. 

I  would,  then,  earnestly  recommend  that  jow.  appoint  a  travelling  mis- 
sionary for  the  district  and  neighborhood  of  Burdwan.  Let  preaching 
be  his  exclusive  business ;  it  requires  a  mind  unencumbered,  free  of 
other  cares  and  responsibilities.  A  missionary  who  has  a  variety  of 
other  duties  to  attend  to,  is  not  well  fitted  for  preaching ;  and  he  who 
has  been  sitting  for  hours  teaching  in  school,  is  ill  fitted  for  it  either,  after 
a  grilling  day.  But  if  the  mind  be  divested  of  every  other  care,  it  can 
be  done  effectually,  morning  and  evening,  in  the  most  unfavorable  sea- 
son. 

I  would  arrange  the  labors  of  the  travelHng  missionary  into  two  dis- 
tinct modes  of  proceeding ;  and, 

1st.  As  to  his  labors  in  the  cold  season.  Let  him  be  famished  with  a 
small  double-roofed  tent,  a  good  set  of  bearers,  a  smaU  covering  of  can- 
vas for  the  catechists  and  servants ;  being  set  up  in  this  manner,  he  can, 
with  the  exercise  of  common  precaution,  be  out  in  camp  from  the  1st  of 
November  till  the  middle  of  March.  In  those  months  it  is  comparative- 
ly easy  to  be  out.  Past  experience  has  shown  me,  that  the  harassing 
portion  of  labor  is  not  in  camp,  though  gomg  about  and  preaching 
fatiguing  to  the  body,  but  it  is  when  I  return  home,  and  a  variety  ot 
duties  and  cares  distract  my  mind.  We  generally  have  "too  many 
irons  in  the  fire,"  and  there  are  very  few  people  in  this  world,  who  can 
do  more  than  one  thing  effectually  at  a  time.  Mental  and  physical 
exertions  bearing  upon  the  laborer,  he  is  worn  out  and  his  health  suffers. 
One  species  of  fatigue  may  be  borne,  but  both  together  are  insufferable. 

2d.  Proceedings  during  the  hot  and  rainy  seasons.  From  the  middle 
of  March  to  the  latter  part  of  October  it  is  not  safe  to  be  under  canvas, 
and  therefore  the  travelling  preacher  must  have  the  shelter  of  a  solid 
house  or  bungalow,  and  these  can  easily  be  procured  in  many  places. 
During  that  time,  he  should  extend  his  sphere  of  labor  in  a  radius  of 
sixty  miles  in  every  direction  round  Burdwan.  This  would  include  Ban- 
coorah  in  the  west,  Beerbhoom  in  the  north,  Midnapore  in  the  south, 
and  Hooghly,  with  Krishnaghur,  in  the  east.  At  each  of  those  sta- 
tions the  missionary  may  stay  for  a  fortnight  or  more.  This  will  enable 
him  to  make  excursions  to  the  most  populous  places  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

Besides  the  towns  just  named,  there  are  many  indigo  factories  where 
a  missionary  may  put  up,  such  as  Sunamooky,  Elambazaar,  Eanee- 
gunge,  Ghatal,  Keerpoy ;  and  along  the  trunk-road  there  are  travellers' 
bungalos,  where  a  stay  of  some  days  will  render  preaching  quite  prac- 


APPENDIX. 


531 


ticable  at  any  season.  By  the  time  this  circuit  is  accomplished,  the  cold 
season  -will  be  at  hand  to  begin  initerating  in  camp  fashion. 

By  such  an  arrangement  a  regular  and  extensive  spread  of  Gospel 
knowledge  may  be  accomplished,  upon  a  larger  scale  than  we  have  ever 
been  able  to  do.  To  render  the  effort  successful,  regard  must  be  had  to 
the  preservation  of  health.  Running  about  in  breathless  haste  from 
one  place  to  another  is  worse  than  useless ;  exposure  to  a  blazing  sun 
would  soon  teiTninate  the  career  of  the  preacher ;  and  over-working,  by 
a  constant  exertion  of  the  lungs,  will  have  the  same  effect.  The  preacher 
need  not  be  out  always ;  breathing  time  and  refreshment  at  home  are 
indispensable  for  keeping  up  the  tone  of  the  mental  and  bodily  facul- 
ties. 

I  trust  our  friends  will  be  prepared  to  enter  upon  this  proposition.  I 
feel  persuaded,  if  judiciously  carried  out,  the  result  will  be  satisfactory. 
The  plan  is  simple  and  practical  It  requires  no  new  arrangements;  it 
would  only  be  carrying  out  a  branch  of  labor  more  perfectly  than  it  has 
been  done  hitherto.  It  is  acting  up  to  the  letter  of  om*  Lord's  last  com- 
mand, and  it  is  following  the  example  of  the  apostles.  I  feel  sure 
some  of  us  can  not  do  better  than  following  the  same  path.  Every  preach- 
ing tour  haves  a  satisfactory  impression  on  my  mind.  I  feel  that  in 
preaching,  I  am  doing  my  heavenly  Master's  work  in  the  highest 
sense.  AU  our  brethren  who  are  initerating  have  the  same  feehng 
on  the  subject ;  surely  this  is  from  the  Lord.  I  received  a  letter  lately 
from  one  who  formerly  was  not  much  in  the  habit  of  going  out;  he  re- 
marks, "  I  was  out  twenty-one  days,  and  felt  so  happy  in  preaching  in 
the  villages." 

The  question  now  arises,  who  is  to  undertake  this  service  ?  My  an- 
swer is,  select  a  brother  whose  experience  and  mental  habits  render 
him  peculiarly  fit  for  the  task.  And  if  you  can  not  find  a  better  one  I 
would  say,  "Here  I  am,  send  me;"  I  shall  be  ready  to  make  the  trial 
for  a  year  or  two,  relying  on  the  help  and  blessing  of  Jesus.  I  have 
been  itinerating  a  good  deal ;  I  know  the  roughnesses  and  enjoyments 
of  moving  about  in  the  villages ;  I  feel  that  preaching  to  the  natives  is 
my  work.  If  the  Lord  opens  a  way  before  me,  I  shall  be  ready  to  spend 
the  remaining  years  of  my  missionary  career  in  this  service.  I  feel  I 
can  not  be  more  useful  in  any  other  branch  of  work,  if  so  much.  My 
health  is  much  improved  from  what  it  was  some  years  ago. 

The  only  thing  that  remains  to  be  done,  in  order  to  realize  the  object 
in  view,  is  to  send  a  brother  to  Burdwan,  who  will  take  charge  of  the 
EngUsh  school  and  Christian  boys'  school ;  he  should  also  be  qualified 


532 


APPENDIX. 


to  preach  in  EngUsh.    Being  thus  set  free  from  other  duties,  I  shall  at 
once  betake  myself  to  the  work  of  preaching.   I  remam,  my  dear  friends,  ' 
in  the  bonds  of  Christ's  fellowship,  yours  very  truly, 

J.  J.  Weitbeeoht. 


No.  IV. 

Religious  Service  of  the  Rajah  of  Burdwan. 

November  6,  1851. 
The  :ftajah  of  Burdwan  has  lately  established  a  religious  service,  after 
the  fashion  of  the  Vedandists  in  Calcutta.  Having  been  invited  by  him 
to  attend  the  ceremony,  which  is  performed  every  Saturday  evening, 
under  proviso  that  I  should  abstain  from  makmg  any  observations  on 
the  occasion,  I  went  to  the  place,  accompanied  by  a  gentleman  of  the 
station.  A  bell  was  rung  to  mvite  the  hearers,  and  on  entering  the 
place  we  found  a  large  oblong  room,  fitted  up  and  arranged  much  like  a 
church.  The  seats  were  inclosed  with  neat  railings.  At  the  farther 
end,  there  was  a  raised  desk  or  platform  grace'fiilly  decked  with  red 
cloth:  on  this  were  sitting  two  young  pundits,  and  below  in  front  of 
them  four  singers  and  musicians  with  instruments.  The  Rajah  kindly 
invited  us  near  him  to  the  front  seat.  There  were  some  sixty  Babus 
present,  I  should  think  nearly  all  being  persons  employed  in  his  various 
offices.  On  the  punkah  suspended  over  the  pundits,  the  words  were 
written  in  gilt  letters,  "Ong  tatshat,"  signifying,  "G-od  the  unchanging 
Self-existent."  The  pundits  commenced  the  service  by  chanting  some 
invocation  or  prayer  in  Sanscrit,  in  praise  of  the  Creator ;  after  which 
one  of  them  read  a  text  from  one  of  the  Veds,  translating  it  into  Bengali, 
and  then  expounded  it  in  a  simple  and  intelligent  manner ;  in  this  way 
he  went  on  for  twenty  minutes.  Then  the  second  pundit  gave  out  a 
text  from  another  Shaster,  and  deUvered  an  address,  composed  for  the 
occasion,  in  pure  Bengali.  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  nothing 
really  objectionable  in  theh  discourses,  either  in  point  of  theological 
doctrine  or  morality.  The  preacher  chiefly  dwelt  on  the  being  and  at- 
tributes of  God,  quite  in  harmony  with  the  principles  of  what  is  called 
pure  deism.  Even  pantheistic  notions  were  controverted  and  disallowed  = 


APPENDIX. 


533 


for  example,  the  preacher  said  Grod  is  a  spiritual  being,  He  is  above  all 
created  substances;  He  is  not  the  sun,  He  is  not  fire,  not  the  sky;  all 
these  were  made  by  Him,  but  He  was  before  them.  Now  the  very 
Veds,  from  which  the  pundit  took  his  text,  contain  adorations  and 
prayers  addressed  to  the  sun  and  fire,  as  divine  beings.  Hence  I  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  preachers  are  choosing  such  passages,  and 
framing  their  expositions  in  such  a  manner  as  to  please  his  Highness 
the  Rajah,  who  is  now  decidedly  opposed  to  any  kind  of  elementary  or 
idolatrous  worship.  In  another  discourse,  the  preacher  illustrated  the 
wisdom  and  benignity  of  the  Divine  Being,  from  the  wonderful  structure 
of  the  himian  body  and  the  powers  of  the  mmd;  "the  ear  being  made 
to  convey  sounds  to  the  head,  and  through  the  medium  of  the  brain  to 
the  mind;  and  the  eye  doing  the  same  office  with  regard  to  the  visible 
objects  of  the  external  world."  "If  there  were  no  air  to  convey  the 
sound,  the  ear  would  be  of  no  use ;  and  if  there  were  no  ear,  the  sweet- 
est sound  of  music,  and  the  Uvely  pratthng  of  the  babe  could  never  be 
perceived  by  man,"  etc.  The  whole  ceremony  lasted  for  about  an  hour 
and  a  quarter,  and  was  concluded  with  singing  and  music,  which  lasted 
far  too  long  for  our  ears,  for  Bengali  music  is  generally  not  in  accordance 
with  our  ideas  of  sweet  sounds.  I  heard  that  one  of  the  hymns  sung 
in  praise  of  the  Creator  was  composed  by  the  Rajah  himselfl 

On  leaving  the  assembly  I  expressed  my  satisfaction  to  the  Rajah, 
adding  that  there  was  nothing  objectionable  in  all  I  had  heard;  "but," 
said  I,  "it  strikes  me  you  can  not  stop  where  you  are  now,  and  I  ear- 
nestly hope  you  wiU  ere  long  go  a  step  further."  Turning  to  Dr.  H.  he 
said,  in  high  glee,  "Did  I  not  teU  you  it  is  all  like  your  Bible,  only  not 
Jesus  Christ!"  I  observed,  "By  this  preaching  you  are  destroying  idol- 
atry more  effectually  than  I  do  by  my  efforts;  for  all  goes  against  the 
worship  of  Krishna  and  Kali."  The  Rajah  rejoined,  "I  wish  it  were  in 
my  power,  I  would  get  Krishna  out  of  this  place  soon  enough."  I  said, 
"If  you  were  to  stop  the  support  of  temples  attached  to  your  estates, 
this  would  be  the  most  effectual  remedy;  it  is  the  cash  that  makes  the 
Brahmuns  so  zealous;  stop  that  channel,  and  they  wiU  soon  bid  farewell 
to  Shiva,  Kali,  and  Krishna."  He  rephed,  "I  can  not  do  it  now,  but  I 
hope  I  njay  be  able  hereafter."  The  Rajah  invited  me  to  come  soon 
again;  "I  have,"  said  he,  "a  discourse  preached  on  morahty  once  a 
month;  all  my  people  are  exhorted  to  lead  a  proper  hfe,  and  especially 
that  they  should  keep  faithful  to  theu"  wives.  You  know  this  defect  is 
a  prevailing  vice  here,  and  they  want  this  kind  of  exhortation." 

On  another  occasion  the  Rajah  said,  "I  am  going  to  build  a  large 


534 


APPENDIX. 


churck  for  my  Dbirma  Sobha."  I  observed,  "Will  you  not  build  it  in 
the  style  of  our  mission  church,  with  a  spire  ?"  His  reply  was,  "I  think 
I  shall.  I  like  your  church;  it  is  a  fine  structure.  "Whatever  plan 
strikes  me  as  suitable  I  shall  adopt.  I  am  quite  fi:ee  to  choose  in  such 
things,  without  reference  to  Hindu  customs  and  ideas."  "Will  you  allow 
me  to  preach  in  your  new  church?"  Answer:  "Oh!  yes;  I  have  no 
objection,  if  you  do  not  mention  one  name,^^  (meaning  the  name  of 
Jesus  1)  That  this  wealthy  Rajah  has  a  prejudice  stUl  against  Christ- 
ianity, and  that  this  hostile  feeling  is  fomented  by  some  of  his  attendants, 
is  well-known.  But,  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  it  is  nothing  more  nor 
less  than  the  same  feeling  which  any  fi-ee-thioking  worldly  nobleman  in 
Europe  would  entertain  against  Christ ;  thus  confirming  the  old  truth, 
"that  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God." 

I  confess  I  see  something  encouraging  in  this  religious  movement  of 
the  Rajah  of  Burdwan ;  it  is  a  forward  movement  for  the  better.  He  is 
winding  his  way  out  of  the  old  rotten  system.  His  moral  character  is 
very  much  improved,  and  far  better  than  that  of  most  of  his  equals.  He 
is  much  attached  to  his  wife,  and  honors  her  as  much  as  a  Christian 
would  his  partner ;  he  is  just  and  humane  in  the  administration  of  his 
estates ;  no  complaint  is  heard  on  this  point  fi'om  the  zemindars  or  ryots. 
He  lately  said  to  a  resident  of  Burdwan,  "I  am  seeking  truth,  and  I  am 
resolved  to  worship  the  true  God."  The  Brahmuns  have  spread  the  re- 
port all  over  this  country,  "the  Rajah  is  become  a  Christian.'' 

It  has  been  said  by  many  that  a  Hindu  forsaking  the  creed  of  his 
fathers,  and  turning  a  pantheist  or  deist,  is  rather  going  firom  bad  to 
worse,  inasmuch  as  he  is  casting  off  the  restraints  which  formerly  kept 
him  fi-om  many  vices  prevalent  among  Europeans,  and  as  he  contmues 
to  hate  the  Gospel  as  much  or  more  heartily  than  he  did  before.  This, 
however  true,  is  but  a  partial  consideration  of  the  question.  If  the 
vedandist  were  unalterably  fi^sed  in  his  present  mental  position,  he  cer- 
tainly would  not  be  a  whit  improved,  in  a  religious  point  of  view,  by  the 
change  he  has  made.  But  the  fact  is,  he  can  not  stop  where  he  is  now ; 
he  is  obliged  himself  to  confess  that  the  holy  book  fi'om  which  he  derives 
his  religious  faith,  is  not  of  divine,  but  human  composition.  A  keen- 
eyed,  sensible  vedandist  must  feel  that  his  system  is  defective  in  one 
essential  requisite — it  wants  a  solid  foundation.  So  long  as  pride  and 
self-conceit  predominate,  it  may  suffice  him ;  but  when  troubles,  sick- 
ness, family  cares,  and  other  trials  in  daily  life  dispel  the  maya  of  his 
philosophical  fancies,  he  will,  he  must  feel  that  in  order  to  get  comfort, 
peace,  hope,  and  happiness,  he  must  turn  to  God  and  not  to  vain  man ; 


APPENDIX. 


535 


he  must  love  the  soHd  basis  of  a  divine  revelation,  and  not  an  elaborate 
philosophical  system  to  build  his  faith  and  hope  upon.  And  where  is 
he  to  go  and  to  look  for  it  ?  even  to  the  same  Gospel  which  hundreds 
of  Hindus  have  already  found  to  be  "  meat  and  drink  indeed."  I  hope 
and  pray  the  Rajah  will  be  led  to  find  it  so.  I  would  recommend  his 
case  to  be  remembered  before  God  by  all  earnest  Christians ;  it  is  a  most 
interesting  subject  in  regard  to  the  evangelization  of  these  parts.  He 
has  a  considerable  knowledge  of  Christianity ;  if  the  hght  of  divine  truth 
were  to  shine  upon  his  heart,  his  prejudices  against  the  name  of  Jesus 
would  soon  give  place  to  deep,  heart-felt  veneration ;  and  what  would 
be  the  consequences  of  his  conversion  ?  Doubtless  the  day  which  wit- 
nessed him  bending  his  knees  before  the  Son  of  God  would  witness  a 
shaking  of  the  whole  of  Bengal,  and  thousands  would  follow  his  exam- 
ple. Our  great  trial  then  would  be,  not  as  it  now  is,  the  paucity  of 
converts,  but  the  difficulty  to  find  out  the  sincere  inquirers  fi:om  among 
the  crowds  who  come  fi:om  secular  motives.  J.  J.  W 


No.  V. 

The  late  Mr.  Weitbrecht. 

{From  "  The  Friend  of  India,"  March  18,  1852.) 

"We  have  much  pleasure  in  calling  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the 
following  notice  regarding  the  proposed  memorial  of  the  services  of  Mr. 
Weitbrecht: 

"Weitbrecht  Memorial. 

"  The  Mends  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  J.  Weitbrecht,  m  testimony  of  affec- 
tionate regard  for  his  memory,  have  decided  on  raising  some  permanent 
memorial  of  his  long  and  faithful  services  in  the  cause  of  missions  in 
Bengal,  in  connection  with  the  Church  Missionary  Society. 

"  To  carry  out  this  object,  it  is  proposed, 

"  1st.  To  raise  and  invest  a  fiind,  to  provide  one  or  more  periodical 
prizes  for  religious  compositions  in  Bengali,  to  be  given  to  Church  Mis- 
eicnary  Society  native  Christian  catechists  and  teachers,  and  called  the 


536 


APPENDIX. 


'  Weitbrecht  Prizes.'  Great  good,  it  is  believed,  may  be  effected  through 
the  increased  attention,  in  consequence,  given  by  this  important  class 
in  our  missions  to  the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the  acquirement  of 
accurate  views  and  expressions  on  rehgious  subjects. 

"  2d.  To  endow  a  fund  for  supporting  and  educatmg  one  or  more 
orphan  or  otherwise  destitute  children  of  European  or  Bast-Indian  mis- 
sionary laborers.  It  is  calculated  that  a  sum  of  Company's  rupees,  5000 
at  the  least,  would  be  required  to  meet  these  two  objects.  Friends  may 
contribute  to  either  as  they  prefer ;  and  should  there  not  be  sufficient 
raised  for  both,  the  former  will  have  the  preference,  having  been  one 
which  engaged  Mr.  Weitbrecht's  last  attention,  and  in  which  he  took  a 
deep  interest.  The  funds  will  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  mission- 
aries of  the  Bengal  Church  Missionary  District 

"The  Eev.  J.  Bloomfield,  Bishop's  Palace,  and  the  Rev.  G.  G.  Cuth- 
bert,  8  Mission  Row ;  also,  all  missionaries  of  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  will  receive  contributions  to  the  memorial." 

"We  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  this  indefatigable  laborer  in  the 
cause  of  missions,  during  the  whole  period  of  his  residence  in  India, 
and  had  numerous  opportunities  of  witnessing  his  zealous  and  success- 
ful exertions.  Few  men  have  ever  laid  themselves  out  to  do  good 
among  the  natives  with  more  heart  and  soul.  For  twenty-one  years, 
the  work  in  which  he  was  engaged  was  identified  with  his  existence, 
and  it  became  the  centre  around  which  every  feehng  of  hope  or  despond- 
ency moved.  His  labors  among  his  little  native  Christian  community, 
in  his  schools  and  among  the  heathen,  were  unremitting,  but  the  influ- 
ence of  his  character  extended  far  beyond  his  own  circle. 

The  ardor  of  his  own  mind  served  to  keep  up  the  animation  of 
others,  and  he  was  not  only  a  most  zealous  laborer  himself,  but  tho 
cause  of  zeal  and  exertion  in  others.  The  beautiful  little  Gothic 
church,  which  greets  the  eye  on  approaching  the  station  of  Burdwan, 
waa  raised  entirely  by  his  own  exertions,  and  wiU  continue  to  serve  as 
a  local  memorial  of  his  labors.  The  Society  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected will  find  it  no  easy  matter  to  supply  the  place  of  one,  who 
added  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  native  character,  habits,  and  lan- 
guage, to  his  own  personal  quaHfications  for  the  work.  The  memorial 
of  his  long  and  faithful  services,  which  it  is  now  proposed  to  raise,  is 
the  most  suitable  which  could  be  devised  in  reference  to  his  own  cha- 
racter, inasmuch  as  it  wiU  serve  to  extend  the  benefit  of  his  labors  after 
he  has  been  removed  from  tho  field ;  and  we  trust  the  subscription  will 


537 


APPENDIX. 


soon  be  filled  up.  We  are  happy  to  hear  that  it  already  amounts  to 
1300  rupees,  and  that  it  includes  donations  from  aU  classes,  High  Church- 
men, Low  Churchmen,  and  Dissenters. 


No.  VI. 


Resolutions  adopted  by  the  Church  Missionary  Brethren,  at 

THEIR  FIRST  HaLF-TeAELY  CONFERENCE  AFTER  ME.  "WEITBRECHT'S 

Death,  held  at  Kapasdanga,  Krishnaghur,  October,  1852. 

"  With  feelings  of  deep  regret  and  most  sincere  sorrow,  the  members 
of  this  conference  record  the  sudden  and  lamented  death  of  the  late 
Rev.  J.  J.  Weitbrecht,  one  of  their  most  active  and  efficient  members, 
who  was  the  chief  instrument,  while  in  England,  in  promoting  the 
formation  of  this  conference,  and  who  regularly  attended  its  meetings 
from  the  time  of  their  establishment,  and  took  a  most  prominent  part 
in  all  the  proceedings  connected  with  them,  endeavoring  to  promote  a 
spirit  of  devotion  and  brotherly  union,  and  to  advance  the  practical 
usefulness  of  the  conference  by  every  means  in  his  power.  Their 
departed  brother  was  most  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  removed  from 
the  midst  of  them  at  the  close  of  the  last  meeting  in  Calcutta,  1st  March, 
1852.  For  many  years,  he  had  been  a  most  zealous  and  devoted  laborer 
in  the  missionary  field,  and  was  esteemed  and  loved  by  all  who  knew 
him,  and  his  loss  is  very  generally  and  extensively  felt,  but  especially 
so  by  this  conference.  T.  Sandys,  Chairman,''^ 


23* 


538 


APPENDIX. 


No.  VII. 

Minute  op  the  Calcutta  Gteneral  Missionary  Conference,  on  the 
OCCASION  of  the  Death  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  J.  "Weitbreoht. 

"  The  Missionary  Conference,  having  had  their  attention  directed  to 
the  sudden  death,  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  March  last,  of  the  Rev. 
J..  J.  "Weitbrecht,  of  the  Church  Mission  at  Burdwan,  unanimously 
resolved  to  put  on  record  an  expression  of  their  high  esteem  and  regard 
for  their  departed  fellow-laborer,  and  to  convey  to  his  bereaved  widow, 
their  deep  and  heart-felt  sympathy  with  her  in  the  trying  circumstances 
in  which  it  has  pleased  the  all-wise  Ruler  of  the  universe  to  place  her. 
While  urging  her  not  to  sorrow  as  others  who  have  no  hope,  but  to 
have  recourse  to  those  rich  and  precious  promises  which  abound  to  all 
behevers,  they  would  commend  her  and  her  youthful  family  to  the 
gracious  keeping  of  Him  who  hath,  in  loving-kmdness  and  mercy, 
revealed  Himself  to  men  as  the  father  of  the  fatherless,  and  the  judge 
of  the  widow. 

"  Our  departed  brother,  though  occupying  a  station  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  Calcutta,  was  yet  well  known  to  almost  aU  the  members 
of  this  conference.  Circumstances  connected  with  his  own  missionary 
labors,  or  family  affau-s  and  arrangements,  occasionally  brought  him  to 
the  metropoHs.  On  such  occasions  it  was  his  dehght,  when  circum- 
stances permitted,  to  meet  with  the  members  of  this  conference,  and  to 
take  a  part  in  their  dehberations.  He  was  conscientiously  attached  to 
the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  form  of  worship  maintained  by  the  Church 
of  England ;  but  he  cherished  a  most  catholic  spirit  of  Christian  affec- 
tion and  sympathy  for  aU  who  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity,  and 
who  sought  to  promote  the  cause  of  truth  and  the  influence  of  true  god- 
liness in  this  land,  and  he  was  most  ready  to  cooperate  with  them,  in 
every  attempt  to  spread  abroad  the  glory  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour,  and 
to  advance  the  spiritual  interests  of  fallen  mankind.  He  had  personal 
and  intimate  friends  among  all  sections  of  the  Saviour's  kingdom,  and 
dehghted  to  take  sweet  counsel  with  them  in  regard  to  the  interests  and 
advancement  of  the  Saviour's  cause  and  glory. 

"  He  was  a  laborious  and  diligent  missionary,  and  his  labors  have 
been  blessed  for  the  good  of  many,  both  Europeans  and  natives.  With 


APPENDIX. 


539 


the  exception  of  an  absence  of  three  years,  during  which  he  visited 
Europe,  he  was  privileged  to  labor  in  this  country  since  1830,  He  de- 
lighted, from  the  earnest  period  of  his  missionary  career,  to  proclaim  by 
the  living  voice,  the  free  and  glorious  overtures  of  mercy  and  peace  to 
fallen  men.  He  was  a  powerful  preacher  in  the  language  of  this 
country,  and  spent  much  of  hia  time  and  strength  in  this  department  of 
labor.  During  the  past  year  especially,  he  labored  much,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  with  good  to  many  souls,  in  proclaiming  throughout  the  towns 
and  villages  surrounding  Burdwan  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Gospel 
salvation.  He  had  also  offered  his  services  to  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  as  one  whose  heart's  desire  it  was  to  be,  in  future,  more  espe- 
cially occupied  in  the  work  of  itinerancy,  proclaiming  the  Gospel  and 
circulating  the  Word  of  Truth,  and  those  who  have  lately  enjoyed  much 
of  his  conversation  know  with  what  feelings  of  pleasure  he  anticipated 
engaging  more  fully  in  this  work. 

"  Our  departed  brother  was  distinguished  for  great  personal  piety  and 
spiritual-mindedness.  He  delighted  to  talk  of  the  things  of  the  king- 
dom, and  especially  of  the  blessedness  of  the  saints.  His  conversation 
has  been  useful  to  many.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer,  and  lived  habitually 
in  humble  dependence  upon  heavenly  direction  and  aid.  In  private  life, 
he  was  often  grave  and  thoughtful,  but  withal  possessed  great  cheerful- 
ness and  amiabihty  of  disposition,  and  to  those  of  a  kindred  spirit  he 
was  a  most  agreeable  and  profitable  companion.  There  are  not  a  few 
who  mourn  for  him  as  a  brother  beloved,  one  who  had  deeply  at  heart 
the  spiritual  regeneration  of  this  land. 

"  The  brethren  of  the  Missionary  Conference  beg  leave  to  offer  their 
sympathies  and  condolence  to  their  brethren  the  missionaries  of  the 
Church  of  England.  The  loss  sustained  by  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  in  the  sudden  departure  of  such  a  laborer,  is  great  indeed. 
He  alone  who,  in  His  all-wise  providence,  hath  made  this  breach  can 
supply  the  vacant  place,  and  replenish  the  vineyard  with  a  laborer 
equally  equipped  and  furnished  for  the  great  Master's  high  and  holy 
work. 

"  May  this  sudden  visitation  stir  up  aU  to  redouble  their  diligence, 
and  redeem  the  time,  and  approve  themselves  laborers  that  need  not  be 
ashamed  1 

(Signed)  "D.  Ewart, 

^^Secretary  Missionary  ConferenceJ'^ 

Extracted  from  the  Records  of  the  Calcut  o  Missionary  Conference^ 
April  17,  1852. 


540 


APPENDIX, 


No.  VIII. 

Letter  to  the  Committee  from  the  Native  Catechists  and 
Teachers. 

BuRDWAN,  March,  1862. 
Dear  Christian  Friends:  With  deep  regret  and  unspeakable  sor. 
row  we  now  announce  the  death  of  our  faithful,  honorable,  and  beloved 
minister  and  friend,  Mr.  Weitbrecht,  who  left  his  sweet  native  country, 
dear  relatives,  and  kind  friends,  and  spent  many  years  among  us,  in 
order  to  preach  the  blessed  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  in  this  benighted  heathen  land  of  ours.  He,  in  order  to  hold  a 
Missionary  Conference  in  Calcutta,  left  us  in  a  strong,  lively,  and  healthy 
frame  of  body,  sincerely  hoping  to  return  within  a  few  days ;  and  we 
ourselves  hoped  so  too,  for  we  never  expected  or  thought  he  would 
leave  us  for  the  next  world  so  soon.  But  alas  1  to  our  great  surprise 
and  grie^  we  heard  a  few  days  after  that  he  had  slept  in  his  dear  Sa- 
viour Christ,  whom  he  loved  so  much  in  this  life.  0  dear  friends ! 
you  can  not,  we  think,  conceive  what  deep  sorrow  and  heart-rending 
anguish  we  felt  when  this  melancholy  and  mournftil  intelligence  reached 
us.  There  was  a  general  weeping  and  a  long  lamentation  in  the  whole 
Christian  village,  for  this  kind,  generous,  and  sympathizing  pastor  and 
friend. 

It  has,  indeed,  been  well  for  him  that  he  has  gone  to  his  beloved 
Saviour,  for  he  is  now  in  perfect  joy  and  happiness ;  but  it  is  a  great 
loss  to  us,  who  will  scarcely,  or  perhaps  never,  get  another  such  kind 
and  feeling  master  and  minister  as  Mr.  Weitbrecht  was ;  for  having  con- 
tinued with  him,  some  seventeen  years,  some  twelve  years,  and  others 
eight  or  nine  years,  we  can  all  well  testify  to  hia  Christian  character. 
Though  we  repeatedly  offended  and  grieved  him  by  our  misbehavior, 
he  never  reproved  or  punished  us  but  with  paternal  affection  and  love. 
He  behaved  so  properly  towards  every  person,  that  we  gave  him,  among 
ourselves,  the  name  of  "  Physiognomist,"  or  Knower  of  characters. 

What  shall  we  say  about  his  love  to  his  fellow-creatures  I  If  any 
were  taken  ill  at  any  time,  he  would  kindly  carry  him  medicme  against 
all  difficulties  and  inconvenience.  Oh !  how  often  did  we  see  him  go 
in  the  rain,  under  the  burning  sun,  and  at  twelve  in  the  night,  to  admin- 


APPENDIX. 


541 


ister  physic  to  the  sick  folk  I  "When  any  one  fell  into  any  distress  or 
misery,  he  assisted  liim  in  his  usual  kindness  and  benevolence.  As  to 
his  manner  of  preachmg,  and  his  conduct  as  a  Christian  pastor,  we  can 
not  describe  them  in  words.  The  words  he  used  in  his  discourses 
would  strike  and  pierce  into  the  hearts  of  his  hearers  like  a  winged 
arrow.  This  we  all  know  from  our  personal  experience,  and  shall 
never  forget.  Oh !  who  will  in  this  way  foster  us  with  both  spiritual 
and  secular  food  ?  Grod  grant,  in  His  infinite  mercy  and  ineffable  bounty, 
that  we  may  receive  another  such  qualified  and  worthy  pastor  to  take 
care  of  His  tender  flock. 

His  humihty  during  the  past  two  years  filled  every  body  with  won- 
der. We  frequently  said  one  to  another :  "  Our  pastor  has  now  hum- 
bled himself  to  the  dust ;  nothing  but  meekness  can  now  be  seen  in 
him.  Oh  I  this  is  truly  the  character  of  a  really  converted  and  renewed 
soul!" 

When  we  look  at  the  poor  orphan  children  we  feel  very  sorry.  Who 
will  so  kindly  support  them  as  he  did  ?  Many  of  them  say  with  a 
hearty  sob :  "  Why  did  not  two  or  three  of  us  die  instead  of  our  dear 
benefactor,  who,  if  he  remained  aJive,  would  tenderly  beg  and  raise 
subscriptions  for  our  maintenance  ?  Still,  God  has  mercifully  left  us  a 
patroness  and  friend  in  Mrs.  Weitbrecht,  who  is  also  very  kind  and  affec- 
tionate, and  she  wiU  surely  do  much  good  to  the  mission.  Besides,  the 
heathen  that  dwell  around  us  are  also  shedding  tears  for  our  late  pas- 
tor's kind  treatment  and  love,  because  when  they  were  unjustly  oppressed 
by  pohce  people,  Mr.  Weitbrecht  would,  notwithstanding  they  are  idol- 
aters, dehver  them  fi-om  their  distress  by  threatening  the  annoyers. 
Thus  they  were  attached  to  him." 

He  preached  this  year  to  the  heathens  as  dihgently  as  ever.  He  went 
through  jungles,  towns,  and  villages,  carrymg  the  healing  balm  to  the 
sick  and  dead  in  sin  and  trespasses.  "WTien  discoursing  with  the  Hin- 
dus or  Mohammedans,  he  fi-equently  took  this  passage  for  his  subject, 
namely,  Luke  4  :  18,  and  told  them  that  if  they  were  not  sanctified 
and  prepared  before  death,  they  should  never  enter  into  heaven. 

On  Sunday  evening,  the  29th  February,  he  dehvered  a  beautiful  ser- 
mon to  a  vast  congregation  hi  Calcutta.  His  text  was  almost  the  last 
verse  of  the  last  chapter  of  the  book  of  Revelation,  namely,  "  Surely  I 
come  quickly :  Amen.    Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus." 

After  returning  home  he  was  taken  with  cholera,  and  in  spite  of  aU 
cares,  troubles,  prayers,  and  tears,  on  the  part  of  his  beloved  wife  and 
other  kind  fi-iends,  he  was  summoned  away,  after  an  iUness  of  ten  hours, 


542 


APPENDIX. 


by  his  ever  faithful  and  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  live  and  reign  with 
Him  for  eternity.  Thus  you  see,  dear  friends,  that  till  his  death  our 
valuable  minister  continued  faithful  to  Him,  who  shed  His  precious 
blood  for  him  on  the  cross.  Now,  let  us  conclude  by  warmly  requesting 
you  all  to  assist  us,  who  are  in  every  way  helpless  and  miserable,  with 
your  mcessant  prayers  to  Him  who  is  the  Giver  of  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift,  and  who  alone  is  really  able  to  heal  the  wound  He  has  made, 
to  favor  us  with  a  kind,  worthy,  and  bounteous  pastor,  such  as  we  have 
just  lost,  according  to  His  wise  and  holy  will. 

"With  our  kindest  regards  and  most  sincere  wishes  for  your  welfare 
.ind  happiness,  both  in  this  world  and  in  the  next,  we  remain  yours 
most  truly, 

NoDiACHAND,  Catechist.      William,  Teacher. 
Pran  Kishto,  Catechist      Eluah,  Teacher. 
BoisTOM,  Catechist.  Abraham,  Teacher. 

Thomas,  Reader.  Sibbu,  Teacher. 

Bycanta,  Reader.  Gumush,  TeacJier. 

Philip,  TeacJier. 
Saul,  TeacJier. 


